Nauru

 

The Republic of Nauru is a small isolated Central Pacific island lying some 41km south of the Equator. The island is divided into 14 districts and has a total population of 10,000 people.

Despite its small size Nauru has had its fair share of high profile AFL players and coaches. These include Dermott Brereton, Garry Lyon, Gary Ablett, Michael Turner, Paul Couch, Neville Bruns, Bernie Quinlan, Mark Yeates, Jarrod Molloy, Simon Hawking, John Northey and Chris Johnson.

Nauru is the only country outside Australia where the No. 1 sport is Australian football. Probably the best example of the fanaticism in Nauru is the names of some of the people themselves. Christian names include Sheedy, Hawthorn, Jacko, Cazaly, Hudson and Jesaulenko. There's even a Jeff Kennett!

The Nauru Australian Football Association (NAFA) consists of six senior teams and a five-team reserves competition. Senior Teams:

• Menaida Tigers
• Panzer Saints
• Blues
• Ubenited Power
• Boe Lions
• Aces

Reserves teams: Eagles, Ubenited, Esso, Magpies, Frigates.
Under-17 teams: Ubenited Power, Aces, Panzer, Tigers, Blues.

Junior football consists of an Under-11 and Under-14 competition, the Nauru Junior Football Federation. There are 6 teams - Aces, Panzer, Tigers, Lions, Blues and Ubenited.

 

Footy - Nauru style

NAFA's headquarters are situated at Linkbelt Oval. The oval is named after a company that used to be involved in mining on the island. Indeed, powerhouse team Menaida were originally known as Linkbelt (as is one of their players!).

On my first visit to Nauru in 1999 I had been told not to expect much but was amazed by what I saw. There is no grass whatsoever - the playing surface consists completely of phosphate dust over crushed dirt. NAFA's slogan is "the hard men of football" and I can see why. You would have to be made of stern stuff indeed to even consider playing on such a surface.

When I asked about the inevitable cuts and scrapes that must occur I was nonchalantly told "a bit of sea water will fix it." Otherwise you run the risk of wounds going septic.

And the ground is not only tough on the players. NAFA Secretary Jansci Kun got a footy out of his car that looked like it had seen better years. He then told me it was brand new before the previous week's Preliminary Final.

Despite the lunar appearance of the playing field there are permanent fully sized goal posts and a very good large scoreboard. Centre square and other markings are done with oil.

The surface has not stopped Doncaster in Victoria sending an Under 16 team in 1996, 1997 and 1998, although they wore elbow and knee pads when they played.

 

History

There is virtually no recorded history of Australian football in Nauru. Common consensus, however, indicates that it was first played in the 1930s and that it was introduced by Nauruans who had been to school in Victoria. Amongst them was Hammer DeRoburt, known as the father of the nation. His obituary states:

"Victoria, and particularly Geelong, became a favourite place for secondary education of Nauruan students who, before World War II, could not proceed beyond primary school on Nauru. Hammer DeRoburt and some of his fellow students returned from schooling in Geelong, introduced Aussie Rules football and made it into the popular sport it is today.

"Hammer's love of Aussie Rules football began in Geelong while he was attending school there. He became an ardent supporter of the Geelong Football Club (Cats) and never failed his team, watching them play whenever he was in Melbourne. The Nauru Presidential limousine was a familiar sight at the MCG when the Cats were playing." (Nauru Bulletin, No.28/92)

In 1994 Nauru came to the rescue of the Fitzroy Lions. As the Herald Sun reported at the time: "If the cap fits, wear it. And to the delight of every supporter and particularly coach Bernie Quinlan and John Birt, 'Kinza the Lion King' donned the maroon and blue cap of the club he helped save, Fitzroy. Kinza Clodumar is the Nauruan-born chairman of the Nauru insurance Corporation, which this week entered a seven-year multi-million dollar arrangement to rid Fitzroy of debt."

Nauru participated in the 1995 Arafura Games in Darwin, winning the bronze medal. The Frigate Birds (as they were then known) were coached by former Geelong player Mark Yeates.

In 1996 the Menaida Tigers completed their incredible reign on Nauruan football with their tenth consecutive premiership. In that year there were eight teams in the competition with special guest John Northey watching the grand final.

In 1997 there was no competition organized at either junior or senior level, although the Nauru Secondary School sent an under 14 team to compete in the Queensland Junior State Championships as an invitational member, winning all four games. Further, one of Nauru's best under 18 players, Paner Baguga, was sent to Brisbane to play for Morningside in the Queensland State Football League.

The Nauru Secondary School was invited to take part in the Queensland State Championships in 1998 as a fully fledged competitor, but unfortunately were not able to attend for various reasons.

In March 2000 Nauru's national team, now named the Chiefs, travelled to Queensland to compete in the Web Sports Cup, involving teams from Nauru, Samoa and Australia. Their tour was a great success, winning both matches.

The Chiefs repeated their success a year later, this time taking out the inaugural Pacific Cup, which was also held in Queensland.

On a roll, the Chiefs continued on to the Arafura Games in Darwin, where they won the gold medal. However, once again no football was played in Nauru during 2001.

 

2000 Grand Final Results

Under-14's	Boe Lions 5.5 (35) d. Blues 3.3 (21)
Under-17's	Ubenited 16.3 (99) d. Panzer 13.9 (87)
Reserves	Eagles 11.5 (71) d. Ubenited 7.2 (44)
Seniors	Panzer 6.3 (39) d. Blues 0.1 (1)*

* Match abandoned in second quarter

 

International Matches

1995	New Zealand 8.6 (54) d. Nauru 3.1 (19)
1995	Japan/Singapore 6.5 (41) d. Nauru 4.11 (35)
1995	Papua New Guinea 7.10 (52) d. Nauru 4.6 (30)
1995	Nauru 9.11 (65) d. Hong Kong 4.6 (30)
1995	Nauru 13.6 (84) d. Japan/Singapore 9.5 (59)
2000	Nauru 9.6 (60) d. Fasito'o-uta Lions 6.1 (37)
2000	Nauru 10.6 (66) d. Robina Roos 9.7 (61)
2001	Nauru 11.13 (79) d. Fasito'o-uta Tigers 1.4 (10)
2001	Nauru 12.19 (91) d. Gold Coast Old Boys 3.2 (20)
2001	Nauru 21.16 (142) d. Japan 1.3 (9)
2001	Nauru 11.8 (74) d. NT Superules 5.7 (37)
2001	Nauru 13.13 (91) d. Central Desert Eagles 5.5 (35)
2002	Nauru 17.17 (119) d. Japan 1.8 (14)
2002	Great Britain 9.11 (65) d. Nauru 8.11 (59)
2002	Denmark 5.10 (40) d. Nauru 3.9 (27)
2002	Papua New Guinea 13.13 (91) d. Nauru 6.8 (44)
2002	Samoa 5.7 (37) d. Nauru 2.8 (20)

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