The social football season is usually finished by October but that hasn’t stopped Tauranga’s Otumoetai FC Originals hosting the Les Verts de Papara football team from Tahiti.

The two teams met last weekend in what is set to become a regular international fixture between the two clubs.

“It was a great game between two clubs who cherish the culture and community of football,” says Phil Mulligan, Originals Captain and President of Otumoetai FC.

“To be able to host a team all the way from a foreign country is a testament to the beauty of the game but also international friendships that can be forged.”

This is LVDP’s second visit to New Zealand, the first to Auckland in 2019.

Dan Robinson, a current member of the Otumoetai team who used to live in Tahiti, made the connection.

“They re-contacted me to set up a game in Auckland again and I said I now live in Tauranga and that they should come down here and play against a great bunch of guys who are similar minded.

“They love to play football and socialise so they made the effort.”

True to form, the BOP put on a stunning day for what eventuated into a close game that ebbed and flowed, with the hosts coming out 7-5 victors.

The game started with the LVDP team presenting shell necklaces to the hosts, certainly a gesture unseen in the usual Sunday social league, but one that set the tone for a game played competitively but with minimal contact, as per the rules played in Tahiti.

“It was tough getting used to their style of play, which is different from the football we play here in New Zealand, but at the end of the day it’s the experience that counts and we learned a lot about their possession and passing game,” says Mulligan.

“It was nice to hobble away with the win though.”

At the end of the game, players were invited to the customary BBQ held at the Otumoetai FC clubrooms.

After food and speeches, the Tahitian team, who are also a sister club to the famous French professional team, Saint-Étienne, and their group of travelling supporters gave a resounding “Mauruuru a Vau”, or farewell and thank you song as a waiata aroha.

“That was emotional for both teams,” says Mulligan.

“It’s not every day our little social team from Otumoetai gets to hold an international fixture let alone experience the friendly spirit between two clubs and cultures we’ve had today.”

The close result means an away game is surely the next fixture with the Tahitians seeking to reverse the result.

Inviting the Otumoetai team to travel to Tahiti for the return fixture, LVDP Captain Guy Gibson says; “we’ve enjoyed our time with you and you don’t need to worry about accommodation, we’ll put you up!”