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Kiribati national football team

National association football team


Summary

National association football team

FieldValue
NameKiribati
Badge_size180px
AssociationKiribati Islands Football Federation (KIFF)
CoachJake Kewley
ConfederationOFC (Oceania)
Most capsNabaruru Batiri (8)
Top scorerLawrence Nemeia (2)
Home StadiumBairiki National Stadium
FIFA TrigrammeKIR
Elo Rank
Elo max187
Elo max date1979
Elo min235
Elo min date2018
pattern_la1_kiribati_h2011
pattern_b1_kiribati_h2011
pattern_ra1_kiribati_h2011
pattern_sh1_esp14h
pattern_so1_color_3_stripes_black
leftarm1FF0000
body1FF0000
rightarm1FF0000
shorts1FF0000
socks1FFFFFF
pattern_la2_kiribati_a2011
pattern_b2_kiribati_a2011
pattern_ra2_kiribati_a2011
pattern_sh2_kiribati_a2011
pattern_so2_color_3_stripes_black
leftarm200FFFF
body200FFFF
rightarm200FFFF
shorts200FFFF
socks2FFFFFF
First game24–0
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)
Largest winNone
Largest loss24–0
(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979)
Regional nameOFC Nations Cup
2ndRegional cup apps32ndRegional name=Pacific Games2ndRegional cup first=19792ndRegional cup best=Group stage
(1979, 2003, 2011)
Ninth place
(1979)

the men's team

(Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979) (Nausori, Fiji; 30 August 1979) (1979, 2003, 2011) Ninth place (1979)

The Kiribati men's 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.

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 held in England, but were forced to withdraw and were replaced with Tuvalu. The team were also entered in the 2023 Pacific Games, but withdrew a fortnight before the tournament began.

Coaching history

  • KIR Pine Iosefa (2003–2011)
  • SCO Kevin McGreskin (2012)
  • ENG Jake Kewley (2015-present)

Last squad

:Squad selected for the 2011 Pacific Games. :Players' club teams and players' age as of 27 August 2011 – the tournament's opening day

|-

! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|

- style="background:#dfedfd;"

! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"| |- style="background:#dfedfd;"

|-

! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"| |- style="background:#dfedfd;"

Player records

RankNameCapsGoalsCareer
1Nabaruru Batiri802003–2011
2Tarariki Tarotu602003–2011
3Tebwaia Baikawa402003
Naingimea Beiaruru402003
Atanuea Eritara402011
Kaben Ioteba402011
Ruevita Iotin402003
Nabuaka Itimaroroa402003
Tokabi Kaiorake402003
Biitamatang Keakea402011
Ukenio Kobuti402003
Martin Miriata402011
Antin Nanotaake402011
Enri Tenukai402011
RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Lawrence Nemeia232003
2Karotu Bakaane132011
Erene Bwakineti32011

Note: Missing goalscorers from 1979.

Competitive record

Pacific Games Record

Pacific GamesYearHostRoundPldWDLFASourceTotal1101107126
1963 to 1975Did not enter}}
1979FijiGroup stage3012340
1983 to 1995Did not enter}}
2003FijiGroup stage4004240
2007SamoaDid not enter}}
2011New CaledoniaGroup stage4004246
2015Papua New GuineaDid not enter}}
2019SamoaDid not enter}}
2023Solomon IslandsWithdrew}}

;Notes

Head-to-head record

Results

Kiribati's score is shown first in each case.

No.DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionKiribati scorersAtt.Ref.
1Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)0–241979 South Pacific Gamesurl=https://www.eloratings.net/Kiribatititle=World Football Elo Ratings: Kiribatiwork=www.eloratings.netpublisher=World Football Elo Ratingsaccess-date=7 July 2019archive-date=7 July 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707181831/https://www.eloratings.net/Kiribatiurl-status=live }}
2Bidesi Park, Suva (N)0–131979 South Pacific Games
3Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori3–3
(2–4 p)1979 South Pacific GamesUnknown
4National Stadium, Suva (N)2–32003 South Pacific GamesNemeia (2)url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/southpac03det.htmltitle=South Pacific Games 2003 (Fiji) - Tournament Detailswork=RSSSFdate=14 July 2003first=Andrelast=Zlotkowskiaccess-date=7 July 2019archive-date=29 September 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929060803/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/southpac03det.htmlurl-status=live }}
5National Stadium, Suva (N)0–72003 South Pacific Games
6Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (N)0–122003 South Pacific Games
7Churchill Park, Lautoka (N)0–182003 South Pacific Games
8Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)0–92011 Pacific Gamesurl=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/pacgames2011.htmltitle=Pacific Games 2011 (New Caledonia)work=RSSSFdate=18 January 2018first1=Neillast1=Morrisonfirst2=Hanslast2=Schögglaccess-date=7 July 2019archive-date=29 July 2022archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729210312/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/pacgames2011.htmlurl-status=live }}
9Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)0–32011 Pacific Games
10Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)1–172011 Pacific GamesBakaane
11Stade Boewa, Boulari Bay (N)1–172011 Pacific GamesBwakineti

Historical kits

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South Pacific Gamespattern_la =pattern_b = _Kiribati2003pattern_ra =pattern_sh = _shortspattern_so =leftarm = CC0000body =rightarm = CC0000shorts = CC0000socks = FFFFFFtitle = 2003 Homepattern_la = _kiribati_h2011pattern_b = _kiribati_h2011pattern_ra = _kiribati_h2011pattern_sh = _esp14hpattern_so = _realmadrid1819hleftarm = FF0000body = FF0000rightarm = FF0000shorts = FF0000socks = FFFFFFtitle = 2011 Homepattern_la = _kiribati_a2011pattern_b = _kiribati_a2011pattern_ra = _kiribati_a2011pattern_sh = _kiribati_a2011pattern_so = _realmadrid1819hleftarm = 87CEFAbody = 87CEFArightarm = 87CEFAshorts = 87CEFAsocks =title = 2011 Away

References

References

  1. "Kiribati enjoying new adventure". OFC.
  2. "OFC Statutes, Article 10, Section 2b". OFC.
  3. (20 April 2012). "The hardest job in football?". BBC Sport.
  4. [http://bbc.in/1EGMljc]. BBC. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. "Kiribati − Background". CONIFA.
  6. "A Beautiful Game for a Beautiful Nation". Kiribati Islands Football Association.
  7. (8 September 2017). "Team Tibet set for 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup in London next summer". Time Inc..
  8. (2018-03-07). "Kiribati pull out of World Cup". Football in Oceania.
  9. (2018-03-07). "BREAKING NEWS! Tuvalu to replace Kiribati at the 2018 CONIFA World Cup". The Bootiful Game.
  10. "Tuvalu to replace Kiribati at the 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup". CONIFA.
  11. (3 November 2023). "Kiribati withdraws from football". SOL 2023.
  12. (12 July 2017). "Kiribati: Fighting for FIFA membership". oceaniafootball.com.
  13. "Interview with Jake Kewley". thinkhouse.ie (Archived).
  14. "Kiribati Official Team List". Oceania Football Confederation.
  15. "World Football Elo Ratings: Kiribati". World Football Elo Ratings.
  16. Courtney, Barrie. (30 October 2005). "Kiribati - List of International Matches". [[RSSSF]].
  17. (1 April 2015). "South Pacific Games 1979 (Fiji)". [[RSSSF]].
  18. Zlotkowski, Andre. (14 July 2003). "South Pacific Games 2003 (Fiji) - Tournament Details". [[RSSSF]].
  19. (18 January 2018). "Pacific Games 2011 (New Caledonia)". [[RSSSF]].
Wikipedia Source

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