Tuvalu A-Division

Last updated
Tuvalu A-Division
Flag of Tuvalu.svg
Founded1980
CountryTuvalu
Confederation OFC
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s)NBT Cup
Independence Cup
Christmas Cup
Tuvalu Games
Current champions Nauti FC
(2023)
Most championships Nauti FC (26)
Current: 2023 Tuvalu A-Division

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, [1] the only football field on the main island. [2]

Contents

The league was founded in 2001. There is also the Tuvalu B-Division which is composed of reserve squads from each of the A-Division teams as well as several other teams. [3]

A C-Division has also featured occasionally though have only competed in secondary leagues or knockout competitions such as the NBT cup or MEYS (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports) Cup and mostly featured B and C teams of A-Division sides. [4] [5] [6]

The major titles in Tuvalu are the Independence Cup (held to recognise the independence of Tuvalu), the NBT Cup (sponsored by The National Bank of Tuvalu), the Christmas Cup, and the football competition at the Tuvalu Games. [7]

Taganoa Cup

Teams in the A-division also compete for the Taganoa Cup. No separate matches are played for this trophy. Instead teams compete concurrently for the trophy during their league matches. For a team to take ownership of the cup, they must defeat the present holders during a league game. They then become the defending holders until they lose a league match themselves. Whichever team is in possession of the trophy at the end of the season is crowned champions. The first Taganoa Cup competition was held in 2021 and was won by FC Tofaga. [7]

Clubs

Nauti FC have won the A-Division title more times than every other Tuvaluan team combined Nauti 4.jpeg
Nauti FC have won the A-Division title more times than every other Tuvaluan team combined

As well as having squads in the Tuvalu B-Division, many A-Division teams also have a women's team which play in the A-Division Women's League [8] and other competitions. [9] In 2019, FC Tofaga and Nauti FC entered an 'A1 and 'A2' team into the A-Division league. [10] Nauti did this again in 2020. [11]

ClubIsland
Lakena United Nanumea
Manu Laeva Nukulaelae
Nanumaga Nanumanga
Nauti Funafuti
Tamanuku Nukufetau
Tofaga Vaitupu
Nui Nui
Niutao Niutao

Previous winners

Number of wins

WinsClubWinning Year(s)
26 Nauti FC 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
3 FC Niutao 2001, 2002, 2003
2 Lakena United 2004, 2006
2 FC Manu Laeva 2017
1 F.C. Tofaga 2021

Source [12]

Goalscorer statistics

Top goalscorers

Pos.PlayerGoals
1 Flag of Tuvalu.svg James Lepaio 30
2 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Alopua Petoa 19

Top goalscorers by season

SeasonPlayerTeamGoals
2011 Flag of Tuvalu.svg StarzleManu Laeva6
Flag of Tuvalu.svg Siopepa TailoloLakena United
Flag of Tuvalu.svg Lutelu TiuteTofaga
2012 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Alopua Petoa Tofaga10
2013 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Mase TumuaNauti4
2019 Flag of Tuvalu.svg James Lepaio Tofaga15
2020 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Hosea SenteNauti8
2021 Flag of Tuvalu.svg Alopua Petoa Tofaga5
Flag of Tuvalu.svg James Lepaio

Multiple hat-tricks

Key
(4)Player scored 4 goals
(5)Player scored 5 goals
(6)Player scored 6 goals

Note: The source of the following information (rsssf.com) does not state goalscorers in some seasons. Therefore, this list is almost certainly not exhaustive.

PlayerForAgainstScoreDateRef.
Matakai Alesana(4) Tofaga Nui 4–14 February 2012 [ citation needed ]
Alopua Petoa (4) Tofaga Lakena United 6–03 March 2012
Alopua Petoa (6) Tofaga Niutao 7–117 March 2012
Tupou Manu Laeva Nauti A2 4-120 April 2019 [10]
Meauma Petaia(4) Tamanuku Niutao 5-3
Eliata Lakena United Tofaga A2 1-13
Alopua Petoa (4) Tofaga Nui 0–249 May 2020 [11]
Eric Tealofi
Sueni Founuku(4)
James Lepaio (5)
Fata Filemoni
Katepu Iosua
Felo Feoto Tamanuku Nanumaga 2–616 May 2020
Nathan Josh Nauti Nui FC 10–016 May 2020
Hosea Sente(4)
Alopua Petoa (5) Tofaga Niutao 16-03 April 2021 [4]
James Lepaio (5)

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Tuvalu - Stadiums". Prepared and maintained by Carlos Santos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Passion and commitment drive football in tiny Tuvalu". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  3. ↑ "Football in Tuvalu". Young Pioneer Tours. 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  4. 1 2 "Tuvalu 2021". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ↑ "Tuvalu 2022". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  6. ↑ "Tuvalu 2023". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  7. 1 2 "Tuvalu - List of Cup Winners". Prepared and maintained by Carlos Santos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Tuvalu A-Division (women)", Wikipedia, 2024-02-26, retrieved 2024-03-07
  9. ↑ "Tuvalu - List of Women Cup Winners". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  10. 1 2 "Tuvalu 2019". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. 1 2 "Tuvalu 2020". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  12. ↑ "Tuvalu - List of Champions". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
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