A total of 18 players will head to New Caledonia for the event, which takes place from August 27 to September 10, and exactly half are survivors from the country’s campaign at the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship in 2010.
Most of the players, 13 to be precise, also represented the Cook Islands last September when Katoa’s charges exceeded pre-tournament expectations with a third-place finish at the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
Assistant coach Michelle Paiti, who also joined Katoa on the sidelines for the Nations Cup, believes the team can achieve a similar result in New Caledonia.
“Although we are ranked fifth in the region behind Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji and Tahiti, our aim is to win a medal,” she says.
Of the up-and-coming talent, Arorangi FC youngster Linade Unuka is one to look out for as she is only 15 years of age. The promising teenager cannot wait to pull on the green jersey of her national team and is keen to impress the coaching staff during the tournament.
“I am honoured to be selected – it is a very special moment for me and I want to do my country proud,” Unuka says.
Twelve of the players are based in Rarotonga while two are from Aitutaki and four play their football in New Zealand.
Coach Katoa will have the support of Paiti and fellow assistant coach Angela Wallbank, who is a sister of star New Zealand international Hayley Moorwood, while John Taripo will also travel to New Caledonia as team manager.
Cook Islands women’s squad for Pacific Games
Marjori TORU (Avatiu)
Jennifer AKAVI (Nikao)
Linade UNUKA (Arorangi)
Marissa IROA (Tupapa)
Elizabeth HARMON (Tupapa)
Leiana TEMATA (Titikaveka)
Loiusa MANICO (Avatiu)
Upokotea MANUELA (Nikao)
Salamata TAKAI (Titikaveka)
Mii PIRI (Tupapa)
Josephine TUREPU (Tupapa)
Natasha DEAN (Arorangi)
Tekura KAUKURA (Aitutaki)
Tepaeru TOKA (Aitutaki)
Mama Henry (New Zealand)
Dayna NAPA (New Zealand)
Courtney NAPA (New Zealand)
Tekura TUTAI (New Zealand)
Coach: Jimmy KATOA
Assistant coaches: Michelle PAITI and Angela WALLBANK
Manager: John TARIPO
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com