Football: Locals star at multi-cultural tournament

A trio of Far North players featured in the semi final between Kurangaituku sides Maia (white) and Kaha (red) at the 2016 NZ Communities Football Cup in Mangere on Sunday. From back left, Graeme Mcrae, Charlotte Abrahams, Tara Jackson, Kalani Walters-Hewson, Shae Brady, Jayde Florian, Macy Brady, Georgia Butler, Phill Parker, (front) Sam Waru, Libby Butler, Sammie Butler, Meripa Seumanutafa and Nicole Cooper.

A Far North player featured in the Maori side which took out the women's division of the 2016 NZ Communities Football Cup in Auckland last weekend.

Tara Jackson from Kerikeri was a vital component in Kurangaituku Maia's victory over the Manukau Rebels by 2-1, the tight physical grand final providing a fitting climax to the second day of the annual five-a-side multicultural tournament at Mangere on Sunday.

Kurangaituku Maia was one of two teams put together through the Maori Football NZ initiative, Whana Poikiri Taiohi.

The other was Kurangaituku Kaha which featured Kalani Walters Hewson and Jayde Florian from Kaitaia.

The two sides ended up clashing in a semi-final with Maia winning 2-1 to advance to the grand final.

Maori Football NZ spokesman Phill Parker said this year's tournament heralded a new chapter in the legacy of the country's premier multicultural football event, and congratulated players in the two Kurangaituku sides from the Far North, Auckland, Papakura and Whakatane for being part of it.

"It's important to keep giving the girls opportunities to play together and experience the varying pressures of competition to fuel their visions.

This is vital to the continuity of our programme and continues to build the girls' character and self-belief within the game."

- Teams in the 8th annual NZ Communities Football Cup, a diverse, ethnic five-a-side football tournament, included one representing the Somalian community from Wellington in the men's competition (in a field of nine teams) on the Saturday, and the Manukau Rebels boasting several New Zealand-based Samoan international reps contesting the women's title (six teams) on Sunday.

The tournament was hosted by the Multicultural Council of NZ with support from NZ Police, Auckland Council and Mangere Sports Centre. Parker said Auckland Mayor Phill Goff had endorsed the concept and was looking forward to seeing the tournament enjoy an exciting future in Auckland.