An inaugural Pasifika Under-15s Cup supported by New Zealand Football and the New Zealand Ministry for Pacific Peoples gave young Pacific players in Auckland a chance to compete and celebrate their culture, in a one-day tournament at Ōtāhuhu United AFC last weekend.
“About two years ago we had a Talanoa with our Pasifika communities, and one of the things they wanted was a festival. Today is the start of that vision,” said Hussain Hanif, Diversity and Inclusion Manager for New Zealand Football.
Organised with the aim of creating opportunities for young players to develop their skills, the tournament also highlighted the importance of cultural pride in sport.
“Three percent of the playing population in New Zealand is Pasifika. Tournaments like this help more of our people see themselves in football and be part of the game,” explained Hanif.
“With the OFC Pro League, the professional landscape of football in Oceania is changing. Initiatives like this give young players a platform, the seed has been planted, and the sky’s the limit.”
Supporting the Tongan team on the day was Tonga’s National Women’s Head Coach Kilifi Uele, who said the tournament was an important pathway for young Pacific footballers in New Zealand.
“It is an honour and an opportunity to see this Pasifika tournament as a pathway for all the kids here, for the Pacific and the Oceania region,” said Uele.
“This is a starting point. The football ecosystem in Oceania will grow not only the players, but the parents, coaches, referees, everyone involved. The kids are the key for football. They play, they connect, they enjoy, and that’s what we need.”
Christine O’Brien, Deputy Chair of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board also praised the event for fostering both talent and community.
“We know there’s a lot of talent in South Auckland and in the Pacific community. Football hasn’t always been a traditional sport for Pasifika families, but the talent is there, the interest is there, and now the pathways are being built.”
OFC’s Player Development Officer Phillip Parker supported the tournament, working alongside New Zealand Football’s Hussain Hanif to help shape the festival framework.
“The intention behind the tournament was to provide a festival and use it as a growth mechanism, but also to use it as an identity establishment and provide New Zealand-born Pacific Islanders a chance to reconnect to their culture and feel that tribal pride,” Parker said.
“Seeing the celebratory nature that Pacific communities have was really encouraging. One team was put together in eight days, and the way they presented themselves showed the ability Pacific communities have to mobilize and crystallize into something special.
“The quality of play, particularly from the top teams, was very exciting, and for them to all be Pacific ethnic players, it’s incredibly encouraging. This is just a small sampling, but it shows the potential across New Zealand.”