Futsal Tournament in Marshall Islands Wraps Up with Kiribati on Top

The first-ever international futsal tournament in the Marshall Islands has come to a close, creating a buzz among local sports fans.

Fans were eager to see how the hosts fared in their inaugural futsal match, with Micronesia and Kiribati also in action, giving all teams a chance to showcase their skills.

The tournament, known as the Outrigger Challenge Futsal Cup, took place over the past week, featuring two teams from each participating country.

It quickly became apparent that Kiribati was the top contender. Their A-team dominated, winning impressively with an 8-0 score against the Marshall Islands A team and a staggering 15-2 against Micronesia A. Additionally, Kiribati B triumphed over both the Marshalls B and Micronesia B teams.

In the semi-finals, the two Kiribati teams clashed, with the A-team edging out the B-team 5-3. Meanwhile, the Marshall Islands fought through to the final by defeating Micronesia.

The final match saw Kiribati A prove their strength once more, sealing a 6-2 victory over the Marshall Islands. Kiribati B secured third place by overpowering Micronesia with a score of 15-1.

Eriati Reebo, president of the Kiribati Island Football Federation, expressed his delight at the team’s success. He hopes this achievement will support their ambitions to gain full status as a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

“This is the first tournament in the region, and our goal is to win. This victory means a lot to the Kiribati Island Football Federation as it is part of our requirements for recognition by the OFC,” Reebo stated.

Currently, Kiribati holds only an associate membership, while the Marshall Islands and Micronesia are not members of the OFC.

Reebo acknowledged the challenges ahead but emphasized their commitment to high-level preparation, considering that the Marshall Islands and Micronesia are still developing their football programs.

Looking forward, Reebo mentioned their ambitions for infrastructure development. He aims to secure government support to build an international-standard stadium that can accommodate all sports in Kiribati.

“We want to partner with our government to find a suitable plot of land and funding to build this facility,” he added.

Furthermore, Reebo indicated that they plan to challenge some Polynesian countries, both in 11-a-side football and futsal, to assess the growth and development of Kiribati football.