Three injuries plague footballers

The loss of three key players to injuries resulted in the Cook Islands mens soccer team being slaughtered 7-0 by the classy Tahitian outfit at the Pacific Games in Noumea.

While the result may suggest a woeful performance by the Cooks and some critics would say it was team manager Paul Turepu saw it differently.

The boys were looking good going into the match against Tahiti they had bounced back from their 4-0 loss to Papua New Guinea, said Turepu.

Things seemed to be going great for us and we held Tahiti to a 0-all draw at half time weve never beaten Tahiti and we really felt like we had the game going into the second half.

But the soccer gods dealt the Cooks a harsh hand when three of the teams key players were struck down with injury.

The worst of the three injuries was a calf tear to the teams second most senior player John Pareanga.

The serious injury has ended Pareangas Pacific Games campaign but fellow team members Nikorima Temiha and Nathan Tisam, who pulled his hamstring just minutes after taking to the field, have a chance of recovering before the Cooks next two pool games.

Adding to the teams woes was an own goal which added to Tahitis two goals for a 4-0 score line in the 70th minute of the game.

Then the floodgates opened as Tahiti carved up the Cooks to slot in 4 more goals to make it 7-0 at fulltime.

Turepu adds that the lack of international game time and a substandard referee are also factors in the teams loss.

Thats why we brought down Waitakere and the 8-0 score line was telling.

Looking ahead Turepu still has faith in the team.

Im confident the boys will bounce back we have to.

The team take a break before facing their next opponents, Kiribati.

We have to win this match.

The team will then play Fiji in their last pool game on Saturday the same Fijian squad that beat the classy Tahitians.