June: time for development in Cook Islands football

While the Round Cup does not begin, football activities are slowly resuming in Cook Islands as two important events took place there during this month.

The first one was a Senior Coaching Course held at Atiu from 1st to 4th of June that counted on twenty participants. The Course was delivered by Tahiri Elikana – the Development Officer of Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA). Atiu is an island 187 km northeast of Rarotonga – the main island in the archipelago.

SEE ALSO
Cook Islands: five years without competitive football
Maro Bonsu-Maro: Cook Islands national team is still a possibility

The second event is the Cook Islands U-16 Men’s Academy 2020, a development program for players from 14 to 16 years old that is also part of the preparation for National Team duties at youth level. This program is also being delivered by Elikana who is doing great efforts to develop the sport there.

Cook Islands is likely play the next OFC U-16 Championship that must take place later this year or in the first months of 2021. Oceania Football Center congratulates CIFA and Elikana for their efforts on promoting the sport.