The annual NAKFA 7-a-side twilight soccer championship kicks off on the Kaitaia College top fields tomorrow evening and once again, organisers were pleased to report all 16 places were filled within two days of entries opening.
Aberdeen FC and Wild Hogs - the defending premiership and cup champions respectively - are returning to contest this year's premiership title along with ROTW, a mostly Latin American brigade featuring a smattering of Kiwis and the most successful team in the 13-year history of the event. Other teams in the top tier include Cross Purposes, De Waal United, the KC Boys led by Jared Neave, the Mako Abundant Lifers, and the Ancient Secrets.
Familiar faces registered for the social/ family division championship are Tu Kaha (led/ managed by John Hartnall), Sallies (Phil Mellsopp) and Wild Hogs Jnrs (Durrin Blakeborough) and the Hooligans, along with the Kaitaia Raiders, the 70 Percenters, the Bangerz from Pompallier Catholic School, and the KC Girls (representing the event organisers).
Each team will play two 25-minute games over each night's three rounds, with all teams asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to kick-off. Teams late taking the field for kick-off by two minutes grant the opposition the right to claim a 3-nil win by default, even if the game still takes place.
DRAW: The draw for the opening round tomorrow night is, Round 1 at 6.15pm, social: Tu Kaha vs Sallies, Wild Hogs vs The Hooligans, Kaitaia Raiders vs 70 Percenters, premiership: Cross Ones vs De Waal Utd, ROTW vs KC Boys, Mako vs Aberdeen FC.
