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Kiribati national football team facts for kids

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Kiribati
Shirt badge/Association crest
Association Kiribati Islands Football Federation (KIFF)
Confederation OFC (Oceania)
ConIFA
Most caps Nabaruru Batiri (8)
Top scorer Lawrence Nemeia (2)
Home stadium Bairiki National Stadium
FIFA code KIR
First colours
Second colours
Elo ranking
Current 234 Steady (3 March 2019)
Highest 187 (1979)
Lowest 235 (2018)
First international
 Fiji 24–0 Kiribati 
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)
Biggest win
None
Biggest defeat
 Fiji 24–0 Kiribati 
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)

The Kiribati national football team is the national men's 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), and is therefore not eligible to enter the FIFA World Cup but may enter the OFC Nations Cup. It became a provisional member of the N.F.-Board on 10 December 2005.

Kiribati is also a member of the ConIFA.

Background

Kiribati have only ever played 11 International matches up to April 2012 where they scored 7 goals and conceded 125. All of these matches were played away from home due to the lack of grass pitches in the archipelago. The Bairiki National Stadium has a sand pitch rather than grass. Kiribati's first match took place in Fiji on 30 August 1979 when they played Fiji, losing 24–0 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, as well as losing 4–2 in penalties to Tuvalu in the consolation round of the 1979 South Pacific Games. Kiribati's only two 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 the 26th minute and the 46th minute.

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

On 10 April 2015, Jake Kewley was officially appointed as the Manager and Ambassador for the Kiribati Islands National Football Team with the remit of liaising with the relevant footballing bodies to advance Kiribati's prior membership applications, with a FIFA application being drafted, finalised and submitted later that year.

On 6 May 2016, Kiribati was formally accepted as the newest member of ConIFA (Confederation of Independent Football Associations), becoming the first ever Oceanic member to join the federation. Kiribati hosted an official visit from ConIFA in November 2016 for the national football competition in Tarawa – Taiwan Sport Tournament – with ConIFA documenting the tournament whilst in the country. Kiribati qualified for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup, that was held in England. However, Kiribati were forced to withdraw, with Tuvalu taking their place.

Coaching history

  • Kiribati Pine Iosefa (2003–2011)
  • Scotland Kevin McGreskin (2012)
  • England Jake Kewley (2015)

Last squad

Squad selected for the 2011 Pacific Games:
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Tarariki Tarotu (1974-07-27) 27 July 1974 (age 49) 6 0
21 1GK Tiaon Miika 3 0
3 2DF Kaake Kamta (1980-08-28) 28 August 1980 (age 43) 3 0
4 2DF Kaben Ioteba (1992-02-24) 24 February 1992 (age 32) 4 0 Kiribati Makin FC
5 2DF Enri Tenukai 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
6 2DF Nabaruru Batiri (1984-12-01) 1 December 1984 (age 39) 8 0
12 2DF Beniamina Kaintikuaba (1993-12-03) 3 December 1993 (age 30) 2 0 Kiribati Marakei FC
16 2DF Barurunteiti Kaiorake (1980-04-01) 1 April 1980 (age 43) 1 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
7 3MF Atanuea Eritara 4 0 Kiribati Marakei FC
9 3MF Atino Baraniko 1 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
10 3MF Jeff Jong 3 0 Kiribati Marakei FC
15 3MF Martin Miriata 4 0 Kiribati Makin FC
17 3MF Biitamatang Keakea (1989-03-26) 26 March 1989 (age 35) 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
18 3MF Tongarua Akori (1983-06-30) 30 June 1983 (age 40) 2 0
19 3MF Lawrence Nemeia (1977-11-12) 12 November 1977 (age 46) 3 2
14 4FW Karotu Bakaane 3 1 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
13 4FW Erene Bwakineti (1982-07-02) 2 July 1982 (age 41) 3 1 Kiribati Marakei FC
8 4FW Antin Nanotaake 4 0 Kiribati Betio Urban Council
11 4FW Joseph Yan (1993-01-25) 25 January 1993 (age 31) 3 0 Kiribati Tarawa Urban Council

Player records

Competitive record

Pacific Games record

Pacific Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Fiji 1963 Did not enter
New Caledonia 1966
Papua New Guinea 1969
French Polynesia 1971
Guam 1975
Fiji 1979 Group stage 9th 3 0 1 2 3 40
Samoa 1983 Did not enter
New Caledonia 1987
Papua New Guinea 1991
French Polynesia 1995
Fiji 2003 Group stage 9th 4 0 0 4 2 40
Samoa 2007 Did not enter
New Caledonia 2011 Group stage 11th 4 0 0 4 2 46
Papua New Guinea 2015 Did not enter
Samoa 2019
Total Group stage 3/15 11 0 1 10 7 126

Head-to-head record

Up to matches played on 5 September 2011.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Cook Islands 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0
2  Fiji 3 0 0 3 0 45 −45 0
3  Papua New Guinea 2 0 0 2 1 30 −29 0
4  Solomon Islands 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0
5  Tahiti 1 0 0 1 1 17 −16 0
6  Tuvalu 2 0 1 1 5 6 −1 1
7  Vanuatu 1 0 0 1 0 18 −18 0
Source: Results

Results

Kiribati's score is shown first in each case.

No. Date Venue Opponents Score Competition Kiribati scorers Att. Ref.
1 30 August 1979 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)  Fiji 0–24 1979 South Pacific Games
2 31 August 1979 Bidesi Park, Suva (N)  Papua New Guinea 0–13 1979 South Pacific Games
3 5 September 1979 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori  Tuvalu 3–3
(2–4 p)
1979 South Pacific Games Unknown
4 30 June 2003 National Stadium, Suva (N)  Tuvalu 2–3 2003 South Pacific Games Nemeia (2)
5 3 July 2003 National Stadium, Suva (N)  Solomon Islands 0–7 2003 South Pacific Games &&&&&&&&&&&&0700.&&&&&0700
6 5 July 2003 Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)  Fiji 0–12 2003 South Pacific Games &&&&&&&&&&&04000.&&&&&04,000
7 7 July 2003 Churchill Park, Lautoka (N)  Vanuatu 0–18 2003 South Pacific Games &&&&&&&&&&&02000.&&&&&02,000
8 30 August 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Fiji 0–9 2011 Pacific Games
9 1 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Cook Islands 0–3 2011 Pacific Games
10 3 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Papua New Guinea 1–17 2011 Pacific Games Bakaane
11 5 September 2011 Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)  Tahiti 1–17 2011 Pacific Games Bwakineti

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Kiribati para niños

  • Kiribati national futsal team
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