Tuvalu A-Division

Tuvalu A-Division or The National Provident Fund Championship League (NPF) is the top football division in Tuvalu. Eight of the nine islands in Tuvalu are represented in the competition. Niulakita is the only island that has no football club. Some clubs have two teams competing. The competition takes place at the 1,500-capacity Tuvalu Sports Ground in Funafuti, this is the only soccer field in Tuvalu. Because of this all of the clubs are located at the head island but still represent their own eight islands.

Tuvalu A-Division
Founded1980
CountryTuvalu
ConfederationOFC
Number of teams6
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)NBT Cup
Independence Cup
Christmas Cup
Tuvalu Games
Current championsNauti FC
(2023)
Most championshipsNauti FC (26)
Current: 2023 Tuvalu A-Division

The Tuvalu A-division has no relegation rule. The B-Division is the competition for the B teams of each club. The same applies for the C-Division. The competition was founded in 2001.

Taganoa Cup

Within this tournament is another tournament; the Taganoa Cup. It was a gift of Nauti FC from Auckland, New Zealand and started in 2006. The winner defend in every game it is playing the Cup, until they lose it, where the winning team on their turn have to defend it, and this goes on until the end of the NPF League Tournament. The team then holding the Cup at that moment, won't earn a prize, but is carrier of this prestigious title, and will defend it the next year.

Clubs (2021)
Nauti has won the competition the most

Tofaga were the champions in 2021.

ClubIslandStadiumCapacity
Lakena UnitedNanumeaTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
Manu LaevaNukulaelaeTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
FC Ha'apai UnitedNanumangaTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
NautiFunafutiTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
TamanukuNukufetauTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
TofagaVaitupuTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
VaoloaNuiTuvalu Sports Ground1,500
NiutaoNiutaoTuvalu Sports Ground1,500

Previous winners

Source[3]

By numbers of wins
Wins Club Winning Years
26 Nauti FC 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
3 FC Niutao 2001, 2002, 2003
2 Lakena United 2004, 2006
2 FC Manu Laeva 2017
1 F.C. Tofaga 2021
1  Tuvalu national football team 2018

Topscorers
Season Player Team Goal
2011 Starzle Manu Laeva 6
Siopepa Tailolo Lakena United
Lutelu Tiote Tofaga
2012 Alopua Petoa Tofaga 10
2013 Mase Tumua Nauti A 4
2019 James Lepaio Tofaga 15
2020 Hosea Sente Nauti A1 8
2021 Alopua Petoa Tofaga 5
James Lepaio

Hat-tricks
Player For Against Score Date
Matakai Alesana4 Tofaga Nui A 4–1 4 February 2012
Alopua Petoa4 Tofaga Lakena United 6–0 3 March 2012
Alopua Petoa6 Tofaga Niutoa 7–1 17 March 2012
Alopua Petoa4 Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
Eric Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
Sueni4 Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
James5 Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
Fata Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
Katepu Tofaga Vaoloa 0–24 9 May 2020
Felo Tamanuku Ha'apai United 2–6 16 May 2020
Nathan Nauti Vaoloa 10–0 16 May 2020
Hosea Sente4 Nauti Vaoloa 10–0 16 May 2020
Alopua Petoa5 Tofaga Niutao 16-0 3 April 2021
James Lepaio5

References
  1. "Tuvalu 2012 – A Division (Men)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  2. "Tuvalu 2013 – A Division (Men)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. Schoggl, Hans (22 Apr 2021). "Tuvalu– List of Champions; Division A (Men)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 Apr 2022.
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