Kunda Tom
Encyclopedia
Kundamundi Ka'Fiatu Hohepa "Kunda" Tom (born 14 July 1986) is a semi-professional Cook Islander footballer, currently playing striker
for Nikao Sokattack in his native Cook Islands
. He appeared four times on the Cook Islands
national team.
Tom began his career at Arorangi FC, where he eventually broke into the senior team at 17. He has spent the majority of his career in the Cook Islands
, bar a year at New Caledonia
side AS Magenta
, before returning to his homeland.
He enjoyed a quite prolific youth career, spending 6 years on the books at Arorangi. He averaged a goals to game percentage of 52% in his youth matches, earning himself the honour of being the youngest player in the club's history to ever train with the senior team at just 15, before being called up to play at the age of 17.
4th round match against eventual winners, Tupapa Maraerenga. He impressed in his brief appearance and made gradually longer appearances, before being given his full debut against Nikao Sokattack, where he scored his first goal for the club in a 3 - 2 win. His appearances became sporadic after going through a barren spell of 1 goal in 8 games, reduced to cameo roles from the bench. Despite winning Fans' Player of the Year at the end of his first season, he fell out with the manager and backroom staff and made just 3 appearances in his second season and just the 1 in his third.
after there was reported interest from New Caledonia
team AS Magenta
. In his 5 starts for Magenta, 4 from the bench, he failed to score, or even shoot. He did, however, appear in the New Caledonia Cup
final against AS Mont-Dore
, in which he came on as a 116th minute substitute, before quickly being substituted off on 118 minutes as he didn't want to take a penalty. Magenta lost the final 4 - 2 on penalties.
national team, including a 2010 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying match against Tuvalu
in which he scored.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for Nikao Sokattack in his native Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. He appeared four times on the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
national team.
Tom began his career at Arorangi FC, where he eventually broke into the senior team at 17. He has spent the majority of his career in the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
, bar a year at New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
side AS Magenta
AS Magenta
AS Magenta is a New Caledonian football team playing at the top level. It is based in Nouméa. Their home stadium is Stade Numa-Daly Magenta.-Achievements:*New Caledonia Division Honneur: 6*New Caledonia Cup: 7...
, before returning to his homeland.
Youth career
Tom was signed by Arorangi at the age of 11 after a scout saw him juggling a melon outside his mother's fruit stall in Mangarei Village. After a swift conversation with his mother, Tom was taken to the Arorangi training complex, situated on a farmer's field. He was signed on a youth contract 2 days later.He enjoyed a quite prolific youth career, spending 6 years on the books at Arorangi. He averaged a goals to game percentage of 52% in his youth matches, earning himself the honour of being the youngest player in the club's history to ever train with the senior team at just 15, before being called up to play at the age of 17.
Arorangi Senior Team
Tom's senior debut came as a 78th minute substitute in the 2003 Cook Islands CupCook Islands Cup
Cook Islands Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Cook Islands Football Association in Cook Islands-Previous winners:*1978: Tupapa FC*1979: Titikaveka FC*1980: Matavera FC*1981: Avatiu FC*1982: Avatiu FC*1983: Nikao Sokattack FC...
4th round match against eventual winners, Tupapa Maraerenga. He impressed in his brief appearance and made gradually longer appearances, before being given his full debut against Nikao Sokattack, where he scored his first goal for the club in a 3 - 2 win. His appearances became sporadic after going through a barren spell of 1 goal in 8 games, reduced to cameo roles from the bench. Despite winning Fans' Player of the Year at the end of his first season, he fell out with the manager and backroom staff and made just 3 appearances in his second season and just the 1 in his third.
Move to Avatiu
Tom left Arorangi and moved to Avatiu in 2006, where he was prolific in comparison to his former club. He netted a hattrick on his third appearance for the club, instantly winning over the 12 fans in attendance. The rest his time there, however, was average at best. Just two more goals followed in the rest of his 13 appearances for the club, and he was booed off on what was his last appearance for the club, where he managed to miss a penalty in the last minute and be sent off after his boot came off of his foot and knocked out the opposition goal keeper.Change of scenery
Tom decided to leave the Cook IslandsCook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
after there was reported interest from New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
team AS Magenta
AS Magenta
AS Magenta is a New Caledonian football team playing at the top level. It is based in Nouméa. Their home stadium is Stade Numa-Daly Magenta.-Achievements:*New Caledonia Division Honneur: 6*New Caledonia Cup: 7...
. In his 5 starts for Magenta, 4 from the bench, he failed to score, or even shoot. He did, however, appear in the New Caledonia Cup
New Caledonia Cup
The New Caledonia Cup is New Caledonia's premier knockout tournament in men's football .-Previous winners:*1954: Indépendante 5-3 Uniforme Fayaoué *1955: no tournament*1956: PLGC 2-1 Ouvéa...
final against AS Mont-Dore
AS Mont-Dore
AS Mont-Dore is a New Caledonia football team playing in the local top division, the New Caledonia Division Honneur.The team is based in Le Mont-Dore, a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa, the capital city of the French territory.-Achievements:...
, in which he came on as a 116th minute substitute, before quickly being substituted off on 118 minutes as he didn't want to take a penalty. Magenta lost the final 4 - 2 on penalties.
Move back home
Tom moved back to the Cook Islands after that cup final incident and began training with Nikao Sokattack. After a few average substitute appearances, he scored 4 goals in a 5 - 4 loss to former side Arorangi. 3 more goals have followed since then. He now occasionally makes the bench for Sokattack, rarely making a start.International appearances
Tom appeared four times on the Cook IslandsCook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
national team, including a 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
Qualifying match against Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
in which he scored.