RAROTONGA – Defending champions Tupapa FC flexed its muscles on the opening day of action at the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) Round Cup after a rousing 6-0 win over Matavera at the weekend.

 

The Tupapa club – or to use its full name Tupapa Maraerenga FC – boast a proud record in Cook Islands domestic football and are the only club from the tiny Oceania nation still in existence to appear at an Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) regional club competition back in 2001.

 

At that tournament in Papua New Guinea the plucky Cook Islanders recorded four straight defeats on their international bow losing to Tafea FC (0-9), PanSa (0-4), Titavi FC (0-2) and AS Venus (0-10) before they were awarded three points due to American Samoan champions PanSa fielding an ineligible player.

 

Despite the gap between Tupapa and the rest of the Oceanian field the champion Cook Island club continue to dominate its own territory and edged out Nikao Sokattak to lift last season’s CIFA Round Cup title.

 

Tupapa’s women’s team made it a double celebration last year lifting their title after pipping Aorangi to a League and Cup success thus giving the club an impressive three domestic trophies out of a possible four. Nikao Sokattak made up for its CIFA Round Cup disappointment by defeating Tupapa in the 2007 CIFA Cup Final.

 

This season Tupapa is expected to challenge strongly across the board for all the domestic trophies but could face a stern examination of its top-dog credentials by Takuvaine. Takuvaine began its 2008 CIFA Round Cup campaign with an equally impressive 6-0 win over Titikaveka and sit joint top with Tupapa.

 

Nikao Sokattak finished Match Day 1 in third place after a 3-1 victory over Avatiu.

 

In womens’ football there was a familiar pattern with Tupapa enjoying an easy 12-0 win over Matavera, Titikaveka were 3-0 winners over Takuvaine. In the days other match Nikao Sokattak womens’ team matched the club’s men with a 3-1 win over Avatiu.

 

COOK ISLANDS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (CIFA) Round Cup

 

Men

 

Standings – 23.08.08

 

 

PL

W.

D.

L.

GF.

GA.

PTS.

GD.

1.

Tupapa

1

1

0

0

6

0

3

+6

2.

Takuvaine

1

1

0

0

6

0

3

+6

3.

Nikao Sokattak

1

1

0

0

3

1

3

+2

4.

Avatiu

1

0

0

1

1

3

0

-2

5.

Titikaveka

1

0

0

1

0

6

0

-6

6.

Matavera

1

0

0

1

0

6

0

-6

 

Results: Tupapa 6, Matavera 0; Takuvaine 6, Titikaveka 0; Nikao Sokattak 3, Avatiu 1.

 

COOK ISLANDS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (CIFA) Round Cup

 

Women

 

 

PL

W.

D.

L.

GF.

GA.

PTS.

GD.

1.

Tupapa

1

1

0

0

12

0

3

+12

2.

Titikaveka

1

1

0

0

3

0

3

+3

3.

Nikao Sokattak

1

1

0

0

3

1

3

+2

4.

Avatiu

1

0

0

1

1

3

0

-2

5.

Takuvaine

1

0

0

1

0

3

0

-3

6.

Matavera

1

0

0

1

0

12

0

-12

Standings – 23.08.08

 

Results: Tupapa 12, Matavera 0; Takuvaine 0, Titikaveka 3; Nikao Sokattak 3, Avatiu 1.