RAROTONGA – In a little under two weeks, the under-19 teams of Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa and host team Cook Islands will compete at the Oceania Football Confederation U19 Championship Qualifiers at the CIFA Complex in Matavera. The four nations are playing for a place in the OFC U19 Championship finals tournament which is scheduled to take place in Tahiti in August.
The four-team qualifier will kick off on Saturday, May 26, and will feature some of the major names in Cook Islands football competing for the chance to qualify and progress to the biggest youth title in the Pacific.
The format of the competition is a round-robin league, with two games scheduled for each match day. Teams will play once each over the three match days – with two rest days between game days.
Getting the action underway at 1.30pm on Saturday will be the big Samoan encounter between American Samoa and Samoa. That match will be followed by the hosts taking on Tonga at 4.30pm.
If you would you like to see the football talents of each country live, get down to the CIFA Complex on May 26, May 29 and June 1.
Youth football is focused on enriching the football experience by positively influencing players and coaches in areas of leadership and character development.
The Cook Islands Football Association is keen to build on these aspects of the game through the hosting of this competition, and wishes the local U19 men’s team all the best as they compete in the OFC U19 Championship Qualifier.
