CI to take on Waitakere

A Cook Islands Football selection side will play host to champion team Waitakere United on Saturday, August 20 at the Cook Islands Football complex in Matavera.

It will be a battle of David and Goliath in one corner will be New Zealands semi-professional side Waitakere United and in the other corner they will challenge a Cook Islands selection team. Most of the Cook Islands selection players play in the local amateur league here on Rarotonga, however, the team will include three to four players currently playing in New Zealand and Australia.

Waitakere United has earned many trophies including numerous national league titles, the Chatham Cup and New Zealand national cup.

Waitakere United is a competitive top side playing in the O-League competition organised by Oceania Football Confederation.

They have held the O-League title and Championship for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008.

This qualified them for their debutant playoff for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup held in Japan.

The coach of Waitakere is Neil Emblen who spent 12 years as a professional player.