Benjamin Mata

Benjamin Mata (born 10 August 1998) is a Cook Islands footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Wellington Olympic and the Cook Islands national team.

Benjamin Mata
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Leonardo Mata
Date of birth (1998-08-10) 10 August 1998
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Wellington Olympic
Number 15
Youth career
0000–2015 Wanderers SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Missouri State Bears 0 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Onehunga Sports
2016–2017 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 12 (0)
2018 Papakura City
2019 Tupapa Maraerenga 0 (0)
2019–2021 Team Wellington 12 (0)
2021– Wellington Olympic 45 (16)
International career‡
2015–2017 New Zealand U17 6 (2)
2022– Cook Islands 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 January 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 January 2023

Club career

Mata began his youth career with Wanderers SC.[1] After his departure from the club he joined Onehunga Sports.[2] The following season he was signed to the reserve side of Wellington Phoenix of the A-League.[3][4] He was one of two players to receive the Winston Reid Scholarship to join the club.[5]

In 2017 he committed to play college soccer in the United States for the Bears of Missouri State University.[6] However, he did not go on to appear for the team.[7]

In 2018 Mata joined Papakura City for one season.[8][1] In 2019 he joined Tupapa Maraerenga of the Cook Islands Round Cup. He made two appearances for the club in 2019 OFC Champions League qualification, scoring three goals.[9][10]

Later in 2019 he moved to Team Wellington. He remained with the club until 2021 when he signed across town with Wellington Olympic.[11] During his first season with Olympic, Mata helped the team win the Central League title that season.[12][13] After the move to Olympic he was named captain of the squad.[14][15]

International

Mata represented his native New Zealand at the youth level. He made his debut for the nation at the 2015 OFC U-17 Championship.[1][16] After qualifying as champions of the 2017 OFC U-17 Championship, he was then part of the squad that advanced to the round of 16 in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He captained the side in the team's round of 16 loss to Brazil.[7]

In March 2022 it was confirmed that Mata had committed to representing the Cook Islands internationally and had been included in the nation’s squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.[17][18] He went on to make his senior international debut on 17 March 2022 in the opening match against the Solomon Islands. He served as captain of the squad in his first-ever appearance.[19]

International career statistics
As of match played 17 March 2022[20]
Cook Islands
YearAppsGoals
202210
Total10

Personal

Mata was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is the brother of fellow footballer Max Mata.[7][12]

References
  1. "TEAM WELLINGTON SIGN BEN MATA AFTER SUCCESSFUL TRIAL". Team Wellington FC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. "Programme Round 1". Northern Regional Football League. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  3. "PHOENIX U-20 BOSS HEDGE EXCITED FOR SEASON-OPENING CLASH WITH EASTERN SUBURBS". Wellington Phoenix. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  4. Rolo, Phillip. "Tasman United coach Richard Anderson knows it's time for team to deliver". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  5. "Mata version 2.0 on the scene". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  6. "Bears Land Two International Soccer Players". Missouri State Athletics. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  7. "Missouri State profile". Missouri State Athletics. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. Easby, Josh. "Coach keen for first win". Cambridge News. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  9. "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  10. "All to play for on final Match Day". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  11. "2021 Northern and Central League Player Lists". New Zealand Footblll. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  12. "The World Cup squad stacked with Lotto NRFL names — and a comedian". Friends of Football New Zealand. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  13. Rolo, Phillip. "Wellington Olympic claim Central League title with win over Miramar Rangers". Stuff.co.national. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  14. "NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH CENTRAL SERIES – MEN'S TEAM OF THE SEASON". theniche-cache.com. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. "Which club is going to be South Central Series Champion?". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  16. "Football: Shootout sends U-17s to Chile". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  17. "Cook Islands confirm squad for Oceania Qualifiers". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  18. "Wellington Olympic's Ben Mata set to play for Cook Islands". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  19. "Cook Islands vs. Solomon Islands". FIFA. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  20. "National Football Teams profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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