In securing the NAKFA Cup last Wednesday, the Rest of the World side cast a long shadow over the annual 7-a-side social midweek summer soccer series on the Kaitaia College top fields.
The result made it a total of five Cup victories for the international formation after winning a fittingly dramatic climax to this year's series. The boys from Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa and Christchurch kept their composure to comfortably win the penalty shootout with scores drawn after fulltime (25 minutes of play), following a notable first-time Cup final appearance for KCOB who finished the premiership at the bottom of the standings.
Throughout the night's two games, a semi and final, the defending cup champions boxed clever; employing an attack-is-the-best-form-of-defence strategy backed up with canny football and a defensive midfield which put bodies behind the ball to deny opposition sides little opportunity to gain momentum. Not pretty football, not much in terms of putting ball over the line, but this proved a winning approach.
The undisputed standout on finals night - and of the series - was local footballing veteran and ROTW goalie Les Olsen, who pulled off a number of saves during the PSO in knockout matches, saves which secured the silverware and allowed his side to claim bragging rights as five-time Cup winners. ROTW advanced from the semifinal in similar fashion, eliminating the form team this year, Aberdeen, the 2013 Premiership champions. A highlight of that game's PSO drama saw Olsen facing off against son Jared, shooting from the spot in front of a highly attentive audience. Father won the duel.
Elsewhere, the First VII won the NAKFA Plate final, beating social division champions Wild Hogs, with both sides advancing over the Raiders and the Fighting Irish in their respective semifinals.
In conclusion, NAKFA (Northland Age Kaitaia FA) officials again thanked organiser Andrew Booth for operating another smooth ship, all the players, teams and spectators who took part in extremely good spirit throughout the tournament's nine-week duration comprising league and knockout, Kaitaia College for the use of the top fields, experienced NFF level 2 ref Grant Morland for supervising the final, and Sara Rogers for keeping time and blowing the hooter on the final night.
NAKFA Cup winners over the tournament's 11 year history are: 2003 Misc Inc (led by Francis 'The Offsider' Malley, played at Kaitaia College), 2004 Marca Bravara Ahipara (Greg Hall, at Kaitaia Intermediate), 2005 Rest of the World (Genaldo da Silva), 2006 East Coasters (Ambrose Liefting, with the series taking place at Awanui Sports Complex), 2007 Freeksngeeks (Les Olsen, Kaitaia College bottom fields), 2008 ROTW (college top fields), 2009 Little Bushmen (from Honeymoon Valley), 2010 Fulton Fury (Andrew Booth), 2011 ROTW (Vander Dos Santos), 2012 and 2013 ROTW.