Promising Aitutaki CISA students

The 2010 Cook Islands Sports Academy students on Aitutaki are regarded by course tutor Junior Tamati as ‘the most promising yet’.

The group is made up of 11 boys and 1 girl who looked fit and toned when CI News visited the class this week.

Tamati says that the priority is to see that all 12 students achieve their national certificate of sports.

“This class has high ambitions and are the most promising group yet,” Tamati says.

In fact, one of the students is currently on national duty representing the country at the FORU under 19 rugby tournament in Samoa.

And so far the team is looking set to qualify for the Under 20 World Championships.

The class’s sole female student, Tuangaru ‘Vavu’ Rima has just been informed that she has been selected to train and prepare with the Cook Islands women’s soccer squad.

Another student, Pukenga Pukenga is the group’s token boxer and would have loved the opportunity to be part of last weekend’s Fight Night with Monty Betham.

The students are aged between 16 and 20 and are based at Araura College.

At the moment their goal is to attend the 2010 International Sevens Tournament on Rarotonga in November.

This means plenty of fitness work and skill based trainings for the students who have a full year’s programme to work through.

Ninteen-year-old Campbell Tupapaa says that he is enjoying the course because “it’s challenging!”.

Disciplined, respectful and confident were also a stand out feature of all the students in this group which bodes well for the future of Aitutaki.