Football: Tiki Kerala Tuskers spice up Northland comp

The Tiki Kerala Tuskers have made a home for themselves at Tikipunga Football Grounds. Photo/Supplied

It may be a bit cooler in Whangarei, but committed Indian footballers are heating up Northland football's third division.

They call themselves the Tiki Kerala Tuskers, a name showcasing the merging of two cultures: New Zealander and Indian. The name Kerala represents the Southern Indian state Kerala, the elephant being part of Kerala's traditional culture.

The squad of 22 hails almost exclusively from there, home to more than 34 million people.

Now they've made a city of about 77,000 their new home and have taken to the luscious Tikipunga Football Grounds.

Team organiser and captain Tom Joseph said the team feels really comfortable in Northland.

"It's a smaller place. There is everything here - hospital, shopping centres, a beautiful lifestyle. Many of us love fishing, so having the beach there is great.

"It's great that no matter where you live up here, you're not too far away from the grounds so it makes it easier.

"When we speak about how the Tuskers team formed in Whangarei, it is the result of collective hard work and consistent effort of a group of passionate football players who live and work locally in Whangarei."

They are in various lines of work, ranging from nursing to IT.

India is far more known for its prowess in cricket and hockey, however Joseph said there's an underlying passion for the beautiful game.

"We come from a country that plays cricket in almost all the streets but the passion to play football was always in our blood and that's why even if we are not talented players but the passion to the game brings us back to the field every day.

"Kerala is famous for our football fans. If you ask anyone from Kerala they are really passionate for their football.

"India's obviously huge on cricket and hockey but we do have good footballers."

The Tuskers have been battling away in the Northland Third Division, sitting fourth on the ladder with four wins, two draws and four losses.

But the losses haven't dulled their enthusiasm and enjoyment of the game. The fact they are playing is a testament to the commitment of their group.

"When we started playing football with the intention to join the league probably a year and a half ago, we started only with six players," Joseph said.

"Those six really put a lot of hard work in forming the team with 22 members now."

In their humble way, the Tuskers always make sure they acknowledge those who've got them to where they are.

"We would like to take this opportunity to say big thanks to our families for their great support they give us every day and the team wouldn't have happened without their sacrifices," he said.

"Also thanks to Tikipunga FC, Northern Football Federation, St Francis Xavier Catholic Church and all our well-wishers.

"We appreciate the council and those who maintain the pitches and make it accessible. It was a great thing to see grounds available to the public which you don't see back home."