A bright football future for Edwards

Cook Islands Youth footballer Pekay Edwards will be making his dream a reality after being selected for the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) Scholarship to attend Mount Albert Grammar where he will further his football dream and education.

The scholarship is aimed at providing educational and football opportunities for youth across the Cook Islands.

Edwards, originally from Atiu, was selected from the 2011 National Youth Championship to attend CIFA’s under 16 boys academy in 2012 while attending Tereora College.

The academy programme brings talented players together to be coached in preparation for the OFC under 17 men’s preliminary tournament held early last year in Samoa.

Through the success of the academy programme, Edwards was the top goal scorer in the 2013 Rarotonga under 17 men’s competition and was instrumental to the success of the Puaikura FC under 17 men’s team winning the round cup, also playing a pivotal role in the Puaikura FC premier men’s team who were crowned the 2013 Rarotonga Premier Men Champions.

At international level Edwards helped guide the Cook Islands under 17 men’s team to victory at the first stage of the OFC under 17 men’s preliminary tournament in Samoa early last year by winning against host Samoa and progressing through to the OFC U-17 Championship in Vanuatu, April 2013.

CIFA’s technical director Tuka Tisam believes spotting talent is relatively straight forward, giving that talent a platform to flourish and realise its potential can be beneficial.

“Edwards has the capability to increase his football abilities and confidence while at Mt Albert Grammar,” says Tisam.

The Cook Islands Football Scholarship scheme has been on-going for 10 years and has nurtured the many local football talents who now are involved at club level and have represented the country at the many OFC tournaments in the past years.