Puaikura F.C.
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| Full name | Puaikura Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Reds | ||
| Founded | 1969 | ||
| Ground | Raemaru Park | ||
| Capacity | 300 | ||
| Chairman | Tuaine Fatiaki | ||
| League | Cook Islands Round Cup | ||
| 2025 | 6th | ||
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Puaikura F.C. (known historically as Arorangi FC)[1] is a Cook Islands football club based in Arorangi. It currently competes in the Cook Islands Round Cup, the main football league competition. They have won two Cook Islands Round Cup championships in 1985 and 1987, and the Cook Islands Cup in 1985 as Arorangi FC. They competed in the 2004 Cook Islands Round Cup under the name Puaikura FC, where they finished sixth.[2]
History
[edit]Beginnings
[edit]Arorangi FC were formed in 1969[3] to compete in the early stages of the Cook Islands Round Cup, however, this can be viewed as invalid as the club competed as a village representative team, instead of an official club registered with the government as a business. As Arorangi, they managed to win 2 Round Cup titles in 1985 and 1987, including a cup title in 1985.[4][5]
Puaikura
[edit]In 2013, Arorangi FC was renamed Puaikura, which is another name for the Arorangi region in the Cook Islands. The name means red sacred fire and originates from the tribe's separation from Takitumu. In their first year as Puaikura, they went on to lift the Round Cup title undefeated, with Paavo Mustonen finishing as their top-scorer, with 36 league goals in 12 matches, and 1 cup goal as Puaikura fell out of the tournament in the first round.[6] Puaikura notably would demolish Titikaveka by 11–0, with Mustonen scoring 6.[7][8] That season they also beat Takuvaine F.C. by 14–1 and Matavera F.C. by 13–1.[9]
First continental tournament
[edit]Puaikura qualified for the 2014–15 OFC Champions League and were placed in a qualifying group alongside SKBC FC, Lotohaʻapai United and Lupe o le Soaga SC. Ahead of the tournament, the club made several key foreign signings, including Stuart Kelly, Stevan Dujakovic, Dean Styles, Fredrik Ljungberg, Tarik Kafedzic, Alex McGregor and Shohei Monju. They were joined by domestic signings Temana Pennycook and Benjamin Heather, with the team coached by player-manager Tuka Tisam.
Puaikura faced SKBC FC in their opening match. Temana Pennycook opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time. In the 78th minute, a crucial goal-line clearance by Paul van Eijk preserved Puaikura’s lead, but in the 90th minute Gun-cheol Kang scored to equalise. On matchday two, Lupe took the lead in the 8th minute through Silao Malo, who scored a volley from outside the box. However, former Rangers player Stuart Kelly equalised and Tupapa eventually lost. In their final match, Stuart Kelly scored, securing Puaikura’s first ever continental victory and a second-place finish in the qualifying group.
Current squad
[edit]Squad for the 2026 Cook Islands Round Cup
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Senior internationals
[edit]Team awards
[edit]| MVP | Most improved | Man of Steel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tamatoa Matutu | JJ Karika | Joseph Tuaputa |
Titles
[edit]- 1985, 2016, 2017
References
[edit]- ↑ Cook Islands – 2013 at RSSSF
- ↑ Cook Islands 2004 at RSSSF
- ↑ "Cook Islands Club Database - Men". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 Cook Islands – List of Champions from RSSSF
- 1 2 Cook Islands – List of Cup Winners from RSSSF
- ↑ "Competition". FijiFootball.com.fj. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Match". FijiFootball.com.fj. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Support, Utopia (18 August 2020). "Puaikura scores massive win". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Cook Islands 2013". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2 April 2026.