Australian rules football in Nauru
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| Australian rules football in Nauru | |||
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| 1999 Grand Final of the Linkbelt Oval | |||
| Governing body | Nauru Australian Football Association | ||
| National team | Nauru | ||
| First played | 1930s | ||
| Registered players | 680 (total) 180(adult) 500 (junior) |
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| Clubs | 12 | ||
| Competitions | |||
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| National | |||
| - Nauru Australian Football Association | |||
| Audience records | |||
| Single match | 3,000 (1999). Menaida vs Panzer. NAFA Grand Final. Linkbelt Oval, Aiwo. | ||
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Australian rules football in Nauru dates back to the 1930s and quickly established itself, along with olympic weightlifting as the national sport of the country[1]
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[edit] Structure
The football league system consists of one national league, run by the Nauru Australian Football Association (NAFA), based in the Linkbelt Oval, the country's only active stadium. The NAFA's executives are a president, a secretary and a treasurer, not including the manager of each of the teams. Mr David Dowiyogo who was the Health planner of the Health promotion for Ron Hospital under the auspices of the Ministry of Health developed a health and youth strategy has been nominated new President of NAFA. Members of NAFA are Vice President Mr Dillon Edwards, Secretary Miss Ann Hubert, Treasurer Mr Terrell Dageago, and members Curtis Olsson and Knighton Dowabobo. In 2006 games in the final Series was stopped by the Minister for Sports after thugs, hooligans and bullies violated rules of NAFA leading to new president Mr Dowiyogo being knocked out twice in a fortnight. Those whom who have involved in the violation are reported to have been banned from playing Australian rules football.
[edit] History
Australian rules was first played by Nauruan schoolchildren in the 1930s in schools in Victoria, Australia. Among these schoolkids was Hammer DeRoburt. Schools in Geelong and Melbourne in Victoria were popular destinations of Nauruan schoolchildren of secondary-school age.
After DeRoburt left Australia, he headed back to Nauru with a couple of friends and popularised the sport in his hometown.
[edit] Participation
According to 2007 AFL International Census figures there are around 180 players in the Nauru senior competition and 500 players in the junior competition[2], representing an overall participation rate of over 3% for the country.
[edit] Leagues
[edit] Senior league
The senior league is made up of 7 teams, with a reserve league of 5 teams. Only two games per week can take place at the Linkbelt Oval, since as of 2005, the Menen Stadium had yet to be built and the Denig Stadium is not suitable for Australian rules games
Teams in the senior league (Elite):
| Team | Colours | From |
| Menaida Tigers | Black and yellow | Aiwo, Buada |
| Panzer Saints | red-white-black | Meneng |
| Blues | blue-white | Anabar, Anetan |
| Ubenited Power | white-black | Ubenide |
| Boe Lions | maroon-gold-blue | Boe |
| Aces | ? | (Anetan?) |
| Supercats | blue-white | Nauru |
Teams in the reserve senior league:
| Team | Colours | From |
| Eagles | ? | ? |
| Ubenited Power | white-black | Ubenide |
| Esso | yellow-black | Aiwo, Buada |
| Yaren Magpies | black-white | Yaren |
| Frigates | ? | ? |
[edit] Juniors
There are also several levels of junior competition in Nauru, including under 15, under 17 and under 18s.
[edit] Audience
The NAFA championship final is an annual event which has in the past attracted up to 3,000 spectators (or 30% of the nation's population). New clubs participated in the competition are BOE Lions, Ace Magpies and Anibare Dockers
[edit] International Competition
[edit] National Team
The Chiefs are Nauru's national team and compete in various national competitions.
Nauru first participated in the 1995 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia. The team, coached by former Geelong Football Club's Mark Yates finished third, winning the Bronze medal.
In 2000, the Chiefs travelled to Queensland to compete in the inaugural Web Sports Cup to compete against teams from Samoa and the Robina Roos from Australia. The Chiefs won both matches.
In 2001, the Chiefs again travelled to Queensland winning another two matches, one against the Gold Coast Old Boys.
In the same year the Chiefs won the gold medal at the 2001 Arafura Games, defeating the Japanese national side.
At the Australian Football International Cup in 2002, the Chiefs finished in 8th place, ranking Nauru the 9th strongest Aussie Rules nation in the world.
[edit] Juniors
Nauru has sent juniors to the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament in 2003, but were defeated by both New Zealand and the ACT junior sides.
[edit] Sponsorship
The main sponsor of the NAFA is Q Store.
The winning team of the top league is granted a free flight to Australia, courtesy of Air Nauru, the second biggest financial supporter of the NAFA.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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