Nauru national soccer team explained

Nauru
Association:Nauru Soccer Federation (NSF)
Confederation:N/A
Coach:Charlie Pomroy
Home Stadium:New Nauru Stadium
Fifa Trigramme:NRU
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The Nauru national soccer team is the national team that represents the Pacific island nation of Nauru in soccer. It is under the auspices of the Nauru Soccer Federation which hopes to become a member of the OFC and FIFA and compete in official competitions of the organizations.[1]

Stadium

Currently under construction for the 2026 Micronesian Games, Nauru's national stadium will be the New Nauru Stadium in the Meneng District’s interior plateau, also known as Topside. Previously, the home of soccer on Nauru was the Denig Stadium.[2] [3]

History

The Nauru Soccer Federation had reportedly applied for membership in both the OFC and FIFA but was denied, presumably because of a lack of infrastructure and league system.[4] In 2009 the Nauruan Minister of Sport Rayong Itsimaera indicated that the island nation desired to become a member of FIFA and the OFC and the organizations wanted to accept them, but reiterated that there were challenges preventing Nauru from joining both bodies.[5]

Previously, Nauru had never played any official international matches. However, a Nauruan representative team had played twice,[6] including a 2–1 victory over phosphate miners representing the Solomon Islands in 1994.[7] The second match featured a Nauru selection playing refugees from the Nauru Regional Processing Centre at the Denig Stadium in 2014 in recognition of World Refugee Day.[8] [9]

After a long hiatus, the Nauru Soccer Association was relaunched in 2018. In 2020, the association’s vice-president Kaz Cain announced that Nauru was considering creating its first-ever official national side for a tournament in Hawaii in 2021.[10] After issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the association was relaunched again in 2023 as the Nauru Soccer Federation under the Nauru Olympic Committee umbrella. The federation’s intent was to build a grassroots soccer culture on the island and field its first-ever official national team.[1]

In December 2023, Englishman Charlie Pomroy was appointed by Head of Nauru Soccer Federation Gareth Johnson as Nauru’s first ever national team head coach.

Nauru's goal was to join the likes of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands in increasing participation in the sport in their countries.[11] Joining Pomroy in Nauru's project were Paul Watson and acting NSA president, local Kaz Cain. The team’s first jersey was also expected to be available to the public sometime in 2024.[12] [13] Johnson stated: "If we do not play at least one match in a Nauru kit I will see 2024 as a failure."[14] [15]

In March 2024, the Nauru Soccer Federation announced that they had signed a deal with Stingz Sportswear, who had just designed and manufactured kits for Micronesia, to produce the Nauru jersey. Hong Kong-based Giordano International had also joined the project as the team's main sponsor, providing funding for the team's kits and matchday apparel. The kit design was expected to be announced in the weeks following the announcement as Stingz and the NSF were finalizing a new logo for the federation.[16]

Later that month, the association announced that it was in discussions with the Football Federation American Samoa to travel to the territory to face the American Samoa national team as part of a small friendly tournament.[17] In addition to shirt sales, the federation planned to document the team's journey with a film similar to American Samoa's own Next Goal Wins. With enough funding, the team could afford to bring in players of Nauran heritage from Australia to supplement the squad.[18] On 14 March 2024, former Premier League striker Dave Kitson was announced as Nauru's first ever national team manager, in addition to a role as international ambassador.[19]

After plans to play American Samoa were scrapped, discussions began with Reading XL FC about the team traveling to Nauru to be the nation's first opponent. The United Kingdom-based club was founded with the purpose of improving the players' physical fitness.[20] Reading XL FC then began fundraising for the trip with a goal of £50,000. In addition to setting up a GoFundMe, the club pursued other options including a corporate sponsor and a documentary deal with a large television network.[21]

Coaching staff

Current staff

Position Name
Team manager Dave Kitson
Head coach Charlie Pomroy

Coaching history

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last twelve months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nauru Soccer Federation-About . Nauru Soccer Federation . 25 September 2023.
  2. Web site: NRC Conducts blasting operation at topside area . Loop Nauru . 24 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Taiwan Reaffirms Support for Nauru’s Plans for Micronesian Games . Loop Nauru . 20 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Düerkop . Sascha . The Associate Members of OFC – 0:3 for football . Football in Oceania . 30 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Menary . Steve . Micronesia is struggling to keep the game afloat . World Soccer . 30 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Nauru Soccer Federation-History . Nauru Soccer Federation . 25 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Cruickshank . Mark . Nauru - International Matches . RSSSF . 25 September 2023.
  8. Web site: Nauru Honours World Refugee Day . Government of Nauru . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824210958/http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/nauru-honours-world-refugee-day.aspx . 31 July 2021. 24 August 2019 .
  9. Web site: Nauru 2014 . RSSSF . 25 September 2023.
  10. News: Richard . Ewart . 23 July 2020. Fake soccer league website turns spotlight on what is really happening on Nauru . 14 November 2021 . Pacific Beat . ABC Radio Australia. en-AU . with audio, 6 mins 55 secs .
  11. Web site: Ewart . Richard . Small island states race to get the ball rolling on the international soccer scene . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 13 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Nauru Soccer Federation Relaunched . Young Pioneers . 31 December 2023.
  13. Web site: Gareth . Johnson . Football in Nauru 2024 . Young Pioneer Tours . 3 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Bjerkevoll . Ola . Nauru have high hopes: “If we don’t play at least one match, I will see 2024 as a failure” . Football in Oceania . 9 February 2024.
  15. Web site: Johnson . Gareth . The Nauru Soccer Federation and Cambodia . Cambodia Lifestyle . 10 March 2024.
  16. Web site: Johnson . Gareth . Nauru Announce Official Kit Maker and Sponsor . Nauru Soccer Federation . 10 March 2024.
  17. Web site: Johnson . Gareth . Next Goal Wins 2 – Nauru vs American Samoa . Nauru Soccer Federation . 12 March 2024.
  18. Web site: Price . Steve . The Pacific Island Of Nauru Plans Its First International Soccer Match . Forbes . 23 March 2024.
  19. Web site: Dave Kitson: Former Reading forward set to manage Nauru in first international match . BBC . 24 July 2024.
  20. Web site: Fat-fighting footballers aiming for Pacific match . BBC . 24 July 2024.
  21. Web site: Earnshaw . James . Reading football team fundraising for 'bonkers' match-up . The Reading Chronicle . 24 July 2024.