Tupani: the quiet achiever

Slight, unassuming and incredibly timid, that all changes when he steps onto the football field.Sure, he can’t change his build, but his stature rises when he calmly brings down a lob, turns his defender and races towards the opposition goal.Tupani first hit the international scene in 2014 as a member of the Papua New Guinea…

Yet the 16-year-old from Malaita is no relation to namesake Benjamin Totori who played professional football for Portland Timbers and the Wellington Phoenix.“I am not related to Benjamin Totori but he is from Malaita Province like me, “Totori said, “I am from an island called Sikaiana.”Gershom’s influences are not surprising; he admires Barcelona and Argentina…

The New Zealand Men’s U-17 side, led by coach Jose Figueira, will play five Group A games at the JS Blatter Football Complex in Apia over the next nine days with the tournament doubling as the qualification event for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in October.Chasing their fifth consecutive title in the U-17…

New Caledonia got the 16th edition of the OFC U-17 Championship underway with a 3-0 victory over an impressive Samoan side. The Francophones easily had the better chances of the two teams as the match got underway but Samoa certainly held their own against a side renowned for its technical ability. Clear strides have been…

For the full match summary: click here OFCU17 SAMvNCLSamoa: 22. Taase HUNT [GK], 2. Tauati TANOAI, 3. Peter HUNT, 4. Bronson LOTU-I’IGA, 5. Lafoga LAFOGA PUPULA, 6. Poasa EPA, 7. Seli FUIMAONO, 8. Samuelu MALO, 9. Willie SAUILUMA, 10. Frank MARINER (c), 11. David WENSLEY Substitutes: 12. Vaa TAUALAI, 13. Mose SOFALA, 14. Timote HALAHINGANO,…

The Cook Islands finished last in Luganville two years ago after qualifying for the main tournament by winning the Preliminary competition in Apia.Yaqona says expectations of his team are carefully measured with the role of tournament underdogs already firmly established. “We’ve got a very young squad with lots of energy that I guess comes with…

To view the official Match Summary:click here OFCU17 COKvPNGCook Islands: 1. Chrismagne ELIKANA [GK],5. Rouru RAIROA, 6. Owenne MATAPO, 7. Will NAPA, 9. Tamaiva MATEARIKI, 10. Sunai JOSEPH (c), 12. Sam TATUAVA, 14. Sam KOIATU, 15. Daniel TAOKIA, 16. Michael WOOD,18. Maru MIRO,Substitutes: 2. Melbourne MATAKINO, 3. Rechimaer RAIROA, 8. Varu VARU, 11. Peter PUREAU,…

Tupani was part of the Papua New Guinea U-20 international team that played in Fiji last year and manager Percy Maitao says the forward is a welcome addition to his squad. “We have just one player from the OFC U-20 Championship here in Freddy Tupani and it’s helpful for our squad. “We need all the…

Co-hosts American Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga are all in action but it’s the co-hosts coached by Uinifareti Aliva who take on Vanuatu at 1pm local time at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago in the first match.American Samoa’s best performances at this level have been saved for the Preliminary round competition and…