Internationals

Cook Islands Football Association	Tony Jamieson	Mark Jamieson

North Wellington AFC Mens Premier team players Tony Jamieson and Mark Jamieson represented the Cook Islands national side in the Polynesian Cup held in Tahiti during June 2000.
The Polynesian Cup tournament comprised five teams - hosts and favourites Tahiti, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Western Samoa. The teams played a single round-robin series of games at the Paranuu Stadium, Papeete (four in total for each team) with the top two teams qualifying for the further Oceania qualification games which were also be held in Tahiti in late June/early July.
The winners of the Polynesian Cup, Tahiti, played against New Zealand and Vanuatu (who replaced Fiji who withdrew due to internal unrest). The second placed team, Cook Islands, played against the Australia and Solomon Islands. The group winners and runners-up met in semi-finals with the winners, Australia and New Zealand, progressing to the final which was held on 28th June 2000 in Papeete, Tahiti to decide the Oceania representative into the Confederation Cup. Australia won the final 2-0.
North Wellington AFC has received the match reports from the Cook Islands coach Alan Taylor as sent to us by Va'inga Tonga (CEO of the Cook Islands Football Association). Appreciation is also due to Phil Evans of the Cook Islands News for his assistance.
Further information on sport in the Cook Islands can be found at the online Cook Islands Newspaper.

Match report (courtesy of coach Alan Taylor)
1ST GAME: COOK ISLANDS 2 VS TONGA 1

An excellent team performance first up by the Cook Islands. The result does not reflect the Cook Islands dominance of the game. The result should have been a lot more comfortable, and would have been if some numerous chances created were taken.
Never the less the team did what was asked of them, stuck to the game play in attack, stuck with game play in attack and defense and thoroughly deserved their win.
The Tongans did not create many chances, with their goal coming from a penalty. George Mani put the Cooks ahead in the first half with Tonga equalising 20 minutes into the second half. The winning goal was scored by Niki Te Miha four minute from the end.
Every player performed well with special mention going to Joseph Chambers, James Nand Ine Mani and Mark Jamieson.

First Line up: Starting Eleven: 20 Jonathon Kairua, 2 Terry Paniani, 6 Mark Jamieson, 5 Ine Mani, 11 Eddie Drollett, 8 Teiva Tauira, 14 James Nand, 9 Joseph Chambers, 12 Daniel Shepherd, 7 George Mani, 10 Junior Puroku

Match report (courtesy of coach Alan Taylor)
2ND GAME: COOK ISLANDS 3 VS AMERICA SAMOA 0

The Cooks came out on top in a game which they never really had complete control of but never look like losing after Ine Mani and Mark Jamieson had scored in the first 5 minutes.
As usual the Cooks played with great courage and determination and created some good chances but failed to add to their early lead until the last minute of the game when Eddie Drollett volley from a 25 meters to make it 3-0
There were no really outstanding performance but as in the games against Tonga the back four looked solid and Tony Jamieson in goal, in his debut, played confidently without really being tested.
The Cooks now look forward to playing Tahiti and with good defense and never say die attitude, who knows what might happen?

Match report (courtesy of coach Alan Taylor)
3RD GAME: COOK ISLANDS 0 VS TAHITI 2

Everyone expected Tahiti to rack up another big score in this game, everyone that is except the Cook Islands team. Whilst Tahiti are still technically superior to all the other Polynesian countries. The Cook Islands shows that discipline, commitment and desire to win goes a long way and the gap between the two countries continue to close.
By defending extremely well for long periods of the games the Cook Islands gave them a chance to win. If the early chances were taken the rest could have been different.
Tahiti opened the scoring in the 15th minute and doubled their lead in the 70th minute. The Cook Islands did not panic and buckle under what was at times extreme pressure, and supported by some outstanding save from goalkeeper Tony Jamieson, they can be very proud of their performance.
The Cooks are now in a position where they must beat Samoa on Friday to qualify for the Nations Cup. There is no doubt in the camp that this will be achieved.
The team would like to thank everyone for their message of support. You are all in our thoughts and part of our motivation to success.

Starting Eleven 1- TONY JAMIESON, 5 -INE MANI, 6 -MARK JAMIESON, 7 -GEORGE MANI, 8 -TEIVA TAUIRA, 9- JOE CHAMBERS, 10 -JUNIOR PUROKU, 11 -EDWARD DROLLET, 12- DANIEL SHEPHERD, 14- JAMES NAND, 15-TRISTRAM CHAMBERS
SUBS: 3-DEAN TEREU, 4-JOHN PAREANGA, 16-NIKI TE-MIHA, 18-ALEX TEARII, 20-JOHNTHON AIRUA, 2-TERRY PANIANI, 17-HENRY HINOI

E-mail from Phil Evans (Cook Islands News) - received 13th June 2000
Hi there
Only one result to hand.
The boys played Tonga on Saturday night and won 2-1. Goals by George Mani and Niki Te Miha. They were due to play American Samoa yesterday but I don't have the result yet.
You can send messages to the team (via team manager Norman Welsh) on fax (+689) 451085

E-mail from Va'inga Tonga (CEO - Cook Islands Football Association) - received 14th June 2000
Kia orana,
We have given a copy of email to CI News regarding some information on you player in the Cook Islands Team.
Attached are reports on the first two games from the Coach in Tahiti plus the update results of the competition.
We are very proud of the Jamieson brothers for making themslves available to represent their country on origin. CIFA will be following their progress in New Zealand and will certainly looking at them to be part of the our World Cup team campaign in 2001 at the Oceania Qualifying round in Auckland next year.
I will keep you inform of the result as they come to hand.
You can contact them on Fax 689-451085
Thank you for your interest, will keep in touch
Va'inga Tonga
CEO

E-mail from Va'inga Tonga (CEO - Cook Islands Football Association) - received 19th June 2000
THE COOK ISLANDS BEAT SAMOA 3-2 TO FINISH 2ND IN THE POLYNESIAN CUP TOURNAMENT TOMORROW NIGHT THEY PLAY SOLOMON ISLANDS IN OCEANIA NATIONS CUP AND AUSTRALIA ON WEDNESDAY.
ATTACHED RESULTS AND FEW ARTICLES FROM THE COACH (Editor note : please check the rest of this page for the results and 3rd game article)
VA'INGA TONGA

E-mail from Va'inga Tonga (CEO - Cook Islands Football Association) - received 21st June 2000
Kia orana again,
You might have heard the news on last night game, sorry they played Australia and not Solomon as reported. They lost 17-0, half time score 7-0. Tony Jamieson was the man of the match for his heroic goal saving to reduce the scores down. The last time the two teams met 2 years ago, we lost 18-0 in Brisbane.
Tomorrow they play the Solomon Islands.
Va'inga