Football: Simiona honoured by Cup call-up

Ngongotaha's Harlem Simiona (left) has been called up to the Cook Islands national team. He is pictured playing for Ngongotaha. Photo / Stephen Parker

Not many footballers in New Zealand can say they've been part of a Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign.

But Rotorua's Harlem Simiona will tick that box when he represents the Cook Islands in Tonga next week, during the first round of Oceania qualifying.

Simiona is an attacking midfielder for Ngongotaha AFC's premier team and is eligible to play for the Cook Islands, where his grandfather was born.

Simiona made the 20-man Cook Islands squad heading to Tonga after impressing coach Drew Sherman. His bid to make the team was helped when he scored a bicycle kick against North Shore United in one of their warm-up matches.

The 23-year-old said it was a great honour to represent the Cook Islands.

"I'm pretty stoked to get a call up to represent part of who I am," he said.

The tournament next week features the Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa. The winning team will progress to the next stage of qualifying next year, against the likes of New Zealand.

"I think we are the third-ranked side [for the tournament next week]. The last time they had the qualifiers, the Cook Islands lost two and drew one but they were all pretty tight games."

He said he first contacted the Cook Islands national team while he was still at Rotorua Boys' High School.

"Things fell through with their qualifying so I didn't hear from them for a while."

Simiona said he had to go through some trial matches and camps in Auckland to make the final squad of 20. He said the Cook Islands team was made up of players based in the islands, Australia and New Zealand.

He said it was interesting playing under new systems in the national team.

"Their style is a lot different to when I come down here and play club. The intensity and the speed is really high."

- Cook Islands draw next week: v Tonga (Monday), v Samoa (Wednesday), v America Samoa (Friday).