Cook Islands Football Association Secretary General Allen Parker was recently in Mangaia to inspect the progress of the Mangaia Football Association (MFA) Complex.

He was accompanied by Scott Woodford from FIFA on their two-day trip to gauge the development of the facility.

The team also included Ben Parakoti, the project manager for the MFA Complex. Upon arrival, the group met with Site Manager Piti Poila, who provided detailed information about the ongoing construction. He explained that there is another thirty percent of rock that needs to be removed to level the land, making way for the football field.

Poila recommended refurbishing an existing water tank on site for use within the complex.

Parakoti further explained that certain factors had caused delays in the project’s completion, which was initially scheduled for August this year. Weather-related setbacks included prolonged rainfall that made work on site difficult and muddy.

Now confident in a revised deadline, Parakoti anticipates that the MFA Complex will be completed by October. The project first commenced on February 5th, 2021, marking the official start of construction of this promising football facility in Oneroa.

Upon completion, the Mangaia Football Association complex is expected to serve as a hub for all football-related activities in Mangaia, encompassing training programs, competitions, and management offices.

During this visit, Woodford suggested a few improvements to enhance the original layout of the complex. These included shifting the field boundary to accommodate an additional warm-up area and relocating changing room units for better accessibility. Attached to these units will be a shelter for housing essential maintenance equipment like tractors and ride-on mowers.

Parakoti immediately incorporated Woodford’s suggestions into his plans for further optimisation of the three-acre plus plot. This exciting development has everyone at MFA eagerly awaiting its completion and inauguration so they can fully experience all of the potential its facilities have to offer. The Mangaia Football Association Complex will surely be an integral part of the island’s sports scene, helping to nurture and cultivate a new generation of football talent in Mangaia.

CIFA