Nauti FC
Full nameNauti Football Club
Founded1980
GroundTuvalu Sports Ground,
Funafuti, Tuvalu
Capacity1,500
ChairmanPatoa Lauti
CoachAso Tapumanaia
LeagueTuvalu A-Division
2023Champions

Nauti FC is a Tuvalu football club from Funafuti, playing in the Tuvalu A-Division.

The team's home ground is the Tuvalu Sports Ground, the only football field in Tuvalu. Nauti is one of the most successful teams in Tuvalu, with the most trophies of all the nation's teams. Nauti plays on an amateur level, as do all the teams in Tuvalu. They also have a reserve squad and a women's team.

History

Nauti was founded in 1980, under the name Combined Devils. The name was initiated by Mr Igatia Talesi. In 1976, he started a mixed team of men from Funafuti and other Tuvalu Islands with the name Combined Devils.

It was in 1980, that Nauti/Combined Devils was officially recognised as the Funafuti Soccer Team. The team's first red uniform was sponsored by Kamuta Latasi. Years later, the team is still using the red color uniforms, the patterns varies but remains red and white. In 2001 the name of the team was changed into Nauti FC.

Nauti won the independence Cup in 1988,[1] it was the first prize won by the team and also in 1990, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009 & 2017.[1] Nauti[s 7 wins makes it the most successful team in the Independence Cup competition.[1]

During 1980–1990 the team was never defeated by Vaitupu, Nukulaelae, Naumaga, Nui or the Tuvalu police Team. It was only defeated once by Nukufetau (penalty kicks in 1982) once by Nanumea and once by Nuitao (Knock out tournaments). In the League Tournament Nauti was never defeated in the period 1980–1990.

In 1991 the airfield was tar-sealed and soccer tournaments in the capital Funafuti came to a standstill. Soccer games were first played again in 1997.

Nauti is the most successful club in Tuvalu, having won the most titles in the Tuvalu A-Division of all the teams in Tuvalu. The Tuvalu A-Division was formed in 2001. Nauti won their first A-Division title in 2005. From 2007 on they won the league seven times in a row. 2009 was the most successful year for Nauti FC, winning a total of three trophy's.[2]

Nauti FC

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Tuvalu TUV Jay Timo (vice-captain)
2 DF Tuvalu TUV Taulau Loto
3 DF Tuvalu TUV Puleuta Satalaka
4 MF Tuvalu TUV Tapeni Letueti
5 DF Tuvalu TUV Kalamelu Papamau
6 DF Tuvalu TUV Paulo Satalaka
7 MF Tuvalu TUV Sosene Vailine
8 FW Tuvalu TUV Sili Fakasega
9 MF Tuvalu TUV Paulo Loto
10 MF Tuvalu TUV Jeff Logo
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW Tuvalu TUV Taufaiva Ionatana
12 FW Tuvalu TUV Feleti Sente
13 MF Tuvalu TUV Afele Valoa (captain)
14 FW Tuvalu TUV Jeff Iefata
15 DF Tuvalu TUV John Tevesi
16 MF Tuvalu TUV Maleko Heiloa
17 DF Tuvalu TUV Katesa Pole
18 DF Tuvalu TUV Manao Manao

Nauti B

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Tuvalu TUV Lomisia Lota
DF Tuvalu TUV Josh Tui
DF Tuvalu TUV Magaono Panapa
DF Tuvalu TUV Jeff Melo
DF Tuvalu TUV Kaunatu Kilisi
MF Tuvalu TUV Julie Niu
MF Tuvalu TUV Pouesi Kofe
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Tuvalu TUV Vaiuuli Pelekata
FW Tuvalu TUV Joe Ioelu
FW Tuvalu TUV Paul Driessen
FW Tuvalu TUV Norm Tufa
FW Tuvalu TUV Tanelua Kausea

Honours

League

  • Tuvalu A-Division
    • Winners (16): 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023

Cup

  • Independence Cup
    • Winners (7): 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2017[1]
    • Runners-up (5): 1998, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2013[1]
  • NBT Cup
    • Winners (4): 2009, 2010, 2016, 2020[1]
  • Tuvalu Games
    • Runners-up (3): 2010, 2013, 2017[1]
  • Christmas Cup
    • Winners (3): 2018, 2020, 2021[1]
    • Runners-up (1): 2011[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "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.
  2. "Competition A-Men". TNFA. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
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