Tupapa Maraerenga footballers head to Tonga

The journey for the 2011 Rarotonga Round Cup Football champions Tupapa Maraerenga Premier Men’s team begins in just a few days as Tonga gets set to host the OFC Club Preliminary Tournament from May 1 to 5.

The Oceania Football Confederation decided in February to revive the OFC Club Preliminary Tournament where Tonga will play host.

Tupapa-Mararerenga will play against the top league champions from Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa.

Under the supervision of Tony Jamieson, the team has undergone a series of training sessions to strengthen their football skills and techniques to assist with their matches while in Tonga.

The head of the delegation, John Paul Wilson, said that the players are all preparing well for the tournament and are looking forward to playing against the top clubs from Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa.

“The team is looking forward to the clashes ahead during the tournament,” he says.

The team that wins this preliminary tournament will stay back in Tonga to play against the eighth placed team from the current O-League competition the AS Mont-Dore from New Caledonia on May 8.

The Tupapa-Maraerenga Premier Men’s team includes – Tony Jamieson, Mii Joseph, Hone Fowler, Branden Turepu, Allan Boere, Matangi Matangi, Twin Tiro, Rhys Ruka, Leo Berlim, Campbell Best, Grover Harmon, Delaney Yaqona, Roger Manuel, Edward Brogan, Nikorima Te Miha and Iona Lupena.

The team is coached by Tony Jamieson, head of delegation John Paul Wilson and managed by Trevor Arona with Paul-Luiz Van Eijk the team physio assisted by Billy Tiro.

The Tupapa-Maraerenga premier men’s soccer team is scheduled to depart this morning and play a friendly match while in Auckland against a local club before setting off to Tonga for the tournament.