Cook Islands U16 football team is aiming for a top two finish in the preliminary rounds where it will face Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand at the OFC U16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti this month.

National coach Ngatupuna (Ngati) Manuela says this will put them in a good position for the play-offs.

The national team includes players who have participated in the Cook Islands Football Association’s U15 Boys Academy and attended the Oceania Football Confederation U15 Boys Development Tournament in April last year.

Manuela said the team had been training hard with three sessions a week since January this year.

“The team has participated in many team-building workshops both on and off the field,” he said.

“We have incorporated ideas from the players as part of their development. Personally, our aim is to maintain a top position at the end of the preliminary rounds and put us in a good position for the play-offs.

“I know it will be a challenging task, but I believe in my team and the unique strengths each player brings to the game.”

Team manager Jason Lindsay said the players were all part of the CIFA Academy and were selected from this training group.

Alongside Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tahiti and Solomon Islands are also competing in the upcoming tournament. Cook Islands has been drawn into Group A.

“From a management perspective we have been doing all we can to provide the boys with the necessary tools for international competition,” Lindsay said.

“For a lot of these boys it will be their first international outing. Along with their on-field training with the coaches, they have been through sessions that included mental approach with national netball U21 coach John Glassie, as well as having the opportunity to listen to the international experiences and learnings of Pacific Games multiple medallist Andre Tutaka George.”

Lindsay adds there has been a huge focus on improving teamwork and communication and they understand that for them to do well at this event, they need to plan all angles as well as have the skill on the field.

The team leaves Rarotonga on Tuesday, July 23, with their first match set for July 28 against Vanuatu.

The tournament will be held from July 28 to August 10. The winner and runner-up will represent Oceania at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2025.

• Losirene Lacanivalu

Cook Islands U16 – Aiga Samania, Eliakima Webb, Harold Rasmussen, Ioane Brogan, Josef Crocombe, Kenya Enoka, Macfan Rani, Maui Denny, Paul Ngaroi, Sounuu Kaveao – Gempton, Tahitoa Webb, Tamuera Newnham, Tana Raina, Temata Rouru, Terepai Karan, Tom Tetini, Tunui Tunui, Tyler Emile, Zarrian Heather-Rau. Management team: Head Coach- Ngati Manuela, Team Manager - Jason Lindsay, Assistant Coach - George Ellis, Assistant Manager – Ed Brogan Jr, Goalkeepers Coach – Tyson Tekeu.