Kiribati national football team

Kiribati

Association	Kiribati Islands Football Association
Confederation	N.F.-Board & OFC
Head coach	Kevin McGreskin
Most caps	Nabaruru Batiri (8)
Top scorer	Lawrence Nemeia (2)
Home stadium	Bairiki National Stadium
Elo ranking	230
First colours Second colours
First international
Papua New Guinea 13–0 Kiribati (Suva, Fiji; 22 August 1979)
Biggest win
None
Biggest defeat
Fiji 24–0 Kiribati (Suva, Fiji; 24 August 1979)

The Kiribati national football team is the national football team of Kiribati and is controlled by the Kiribati Islands Football Association. Kiribati is not a member of FIFA but is an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC),^[1] and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the OFC Nations Cup.^[2] It became a provisional member of the N.F.-Board on 10 December 2005.

As of April 2012, Kiribati has played only ten games in its history, all at the South Pacific Games, two in 1979, four in 2003, and four in 2011. The biggest wins for Fiji and Vanuatu have been against Kiribati, 24–0 and 18–0 respectively. Kiribati have yet to win an international match, and have never played at home, not least because there is no adequate playing ground suitable for an international match. Bairiki National Stadium is a sand pitch rather than a grass field. In ten games, Kiribati has scored four goals and conceded 122.^[3]

In 2012, Scotsman Kevin McGreskin became the team's coach, with the aim of improving its results and obtaining recognition from FIFA.^[3]

Background

Kiribati have only ever played 10 International matches up to 28 June 2012. Kiribati's first match took place in Fiji on 22 August 1979 when they played Papua New Guinea, losing 13-0 in a South Pacific Games match. The side have never won a match but came very close when they lost 3-2 to fellow minnows Tuvalu on 30 June 2003 in Pool A of the South Pacific Games in Fiji. Kiribati's only 2 goals in the 2011 Pacific games were scored by Karotu Bakaane versus Papua New Guinea and Erene Bakineti versus Tahiti; but in the 2003 competition both goals against Tuvalu came from Lawrence Nemeia on 26 minutes and 46 minutes.

The Kiribati team for the 2003 South Pacific games was as follows versus Tuvalu: Tarariki Tarotu, Tebwaia Baikawa, Nabaruru Batiri (Naingmea Beiaruru 86’), Tokabi Kaiorake, Ukenio Kobuti, Ruevita Iotin, Lawrence Nemeia,Betaia Ioana (David Collins 54’), Nabuaka Itimaroroa, Atantaake Tooma, Palamo Kulene.

Solomon Islands which was lost 7-0: Kiteone Kairoronga, Tebwaia Baikawa, Nabaruru Batiri, Tokabi Kaiorake, Ukenio Kobuti (Takinoa Tekaei 63), Ruevita Iotin, Lawrence Nemeia, Betaia Ioana (David Collins 46’), Nabuaka Itimaroroa, Naingmea Beiaruru (Eritara Riteti 55), Palamo Kulene.

v Fiji lost 12-0: Kiteone Kairoronga (Tarariki Tarotu 37’), Tebwaia Baikawa, Nabaruru Batiri, Tokabi Kaiorake, Ukenio Kobuti (Naingmea Beiaruru 34’), Ruevita Iotin, Lawrence Nemeia, David Collins, Nabuaka Itimaroroa, Atantaake Tooma, Palamo Kulene.

v Vanuatu lost 18-0: Tarariki Tarotu, Tebwaia Baikawa, Nabaruru Batiri, Tokabi Kaiorake,Ukenio Kobuti (Naingmea Beiaruru 50’), Ruevita Iotin, Lawrence Nemeia, Betaia Ioana (Nabuaka Itimaroroa 43’), Atantaake Tooma, Palamo Kulene (Tiaon Rekenibali 67’), Teburae Rataro.

Complete International Results

(Accurate as of 28 June 2012)

Date	Opponents	Score	Competition	Attendance
22 August 1979	Papua New Guinea	0-13	South Pacific Games
24 August 1979	Fiji	0-24	South Pacific Games
30 June 2003	Tuvalu	2-3	South Pacific Games - Pool A
3 July 2003	Solomon Islands	0-7	South Pacific Games - Pool A
5 July 2003	Fiji	0-12	South Pacific Games - Pool A	4,000est.
7 July 2003	Vanuatu	0-18	South Pacific Games - Pool A	2,000est
30 August 2011	Fiji	0-9	Pacific Games - Pool B
1 September 2011	Cook Islands	0-3	Pacific Games - Pool B
3 September 2011	Papua New Guinea	1-17	Pacific Games - Pool B
5 September 2011	Tahiti	1-17	Pacific Games - Pool B

South Pacific / Pacific Games record

Brief Record

• 1963 to 1975 – Did not enter
• 1979 – Round 1⁽¹⁾
• 1983 to 1995 – Did not enter
• 2003 – Round 1
• 2007 – Did not enter
• 2011 – Round 1

⁽¹⁾ Represented by a club team.

Performances

1979

	Group One - 1979	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Fiji	2	1	1	0	24	0	3
2	Papua New Guinea	2	1	1	0	13	0	3
3	Kiribati	2	0	0	2	0	37	0

2003

	Group A - 2003	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Fiji	4	3	1	0	18	1	10
2	Vanuatu	4	2	2	0	21	2	8
3	Solomon Islands	4	2	1	1	14	4	7
4	Tuvalu	4	1	0	3	3	11	3
5	Kiribati	4	0	0	4	2	40	0

2011

	Group B - 2011	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Fiji	4	4	0	0	18	1	12
2	Tahiti	4	2	1	1	25	5	7
3	Papua New Guinea	4	2	1	1	22	4	7
4	Cook Islands	4	1	0	3	4	15	3
5	Kiribati	4	0	0	4	2	46	0

Current squad

Squad selected for the 2011 Pacific Games.^[4]

See also

• Fully sovereign states without FIFA membership

References

External links

• Kiribati results at rsssf

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