 | |||
| Full name | Tofaga Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | Tuvalu Sports Ground, Funafuti, Tuvalu | ||
| Capacity | 1,500 | ||
| League | Tuvalu A-Division | ||
| 2021 | 1st [1] | ||
Tofaga FC is a Tuvalu football club from Vaitupu, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
The team's home ground is the Tuvalu Sports Ground, [2] on Funafuti, which is the only football field in Tuvalu. Tofaga plays on an amateur level, as do all the teams in Tuvalu. They also have a reserve squad and a women's team.
The team was originally name Vatokami and was founded in the 1970s. In the 1990s, Paulson Panapa and Tapugao Falefou were the team’s well-known players. In 1997 the team won its first prize, the Benson and Hedges Cup. [3] The team won the Independence Cup (held to recognise the independence of Tuvalu) in 1998. [3]
In 2005, the team changed its name to Tofaga. [4]
Toakai Puapua was coach from 2006 to 2008. He was also the football coach of Tuvalu during the 2007 South Pacific Games. [5]
Tofaga won the NBT Cup and the Independence Cup in 2006. After that, the club regularly won cups; the NBT Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2011, and three prizes in 2010 (Tuvalu Games, Independence Cup and Christmas Cup). Tofaga won the Independence Cup 5 times, and the team has also won the NBT Cup 9 times, and was the runner-up 4 times. [3]
Tofaga’s only win of the Tuvalu A-Division competition was in 2021, [3] although its players, including Alopua Petoa [6] and James Lepaio, [7] were topscorers in the Tuvalu A-Division competition, in 2011, 2012, 2019 & 2021, and Alopua Petoa is the topscorer with the Tuvalu national football team with 11 goals in his international career. [8] [9] [10]
Tofaga was the runner-up in the 2023 Tuvalu A-Division competition. [11] Tofaga won the NBT Cup in 2023, beating Vaoloa 2-1. [11] The team included Etimoni Timuani (defender), James Lepaio (midfielder) and Alopua Petoa (striker). [12]
The Tofaga reserve team has been the B-Team Champions 5 times: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013 & 2021. [1]
The Tuvalu national football team is the international football team of Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is played at the club and international level. The Tuvalu national team draws players from the Tuvalu A-Division and trains at the Tuvalu Sports Ground at Funafuti. The national team competes in the Pacific Games, and is controlled by the Tuvalu Islands Football Association, which is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) but not a member of FIFA.
The Tuvalu A-Division or The National Provident Fund Championship League (NPF) is the top football division in Tuvalu. The league is organised by the Tuvalu National Football Association. Eight of the nine islands in Tuvalu are represented in the league. Niulakita is the only island that has no football club. Matches are held at the 1,500-capacity Tuvalu Sports Ground in Funafuti, the only football field on the main island.
Lakena United is a Tuvalu football club from Nanumea, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
Nauti FC is a Tuvalu football club from Funafuti, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
Tamanuku, formerly known as FC Teasi, is a Tuvaluan football club from Nukufetau that currently plays in the Tuvalu A-Division.
FC Nanumaga or Ha'apai United is a Tuvalu football club from Nanumanga, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
FC Niutao is a Tuvalu football club from Niutao, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.
Nui FC or Vaoloa is a Tuvaluan football club from Nui that plays in the Tuvalu A-Division. It was formed in 1980.
The 2011 Tuvalu A-Division is the 11th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The Tuvalu A-Division season began on 29 January 2011 and ended on 12 March 2011. Nauti FC were the defending champions.
The 2012 Tuvalu A-Division was the 12th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The Tuvalu A-Division season began on 4 February 2012 and finished on 17 March 2012. The champions were Nauti FC who won their seventh league title.
The 2005 Tuvalu A-Division is the fifth season of association football competition in Tuvalu. The champions of the Tuvalu A-Division were Nauti FC.
The Tuvalu A-Division for women is the top level women's football league in Tuvalu. The league is organized by the Tuvalu National Football Association.
The Tuvaluan football league system, is a series of non-interconnected leagues for club football in Tuvalu. The league is organized by the Tuvalu National Football Association. Eight of the nine islands in Tuvalu are represented in the competition. Niulakita is the only island that has no football club. Some clubs have two teams competing. The competition takes place at the 1,500-capacity Tuvalu Sports Ground in Funafuti, this is the only soccer field in Tuvalu. The football clubs are based on the communities of the 8 major islands of Tuvalu, with the rivalry between these 8 teams being maintained by each having a ‘home’ island.
The Tuvalu Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Pacific Games, with participation exclusively from islands around Tuvalu.
The 2007 Tuvalu A-Division was the seventh season of association football competition. The Tuvalu A-Division was won by Nauti FC for the second time. the league returned to the single division format from the two pool format with a play-off used in the previous season. The league, which started on 17 February, was renamed, TNPF Soccer League.
The 2009 Tuvalu A-Division was the ninth season of association football competition. The Tuvalu A-Division was won by Nauti FC for the third consecutive time and the fourth time overall. The league was renamed for the fourth consecutive season, this time being called the Funafuti League.
The 2017 Tuvalu A-Division was the 17th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The season started and finish on 2017.
The 2019 Tuvalu A-Division was the 19th season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The season started and finish on 2019.
The 2021 Tuvalu A-Division was the 21st season of top flight association football in Tuvalu. The season started in 6 March and finished on 17 April 2021.
James Lepaio is a Tuvaluan footballer who plays as a left defensive midfielder who currently plays for Tofaga FC. He was a Tuvalu international player from 2011 to 2017.
