Brazil wins 'Wakatipu World Cup'

After the prizegiving, Hud Rapata, of Queenstown (centre) led the players from the two final...
After the prizegiving, Hud Rapata, of Queenstown (centre) led the players from the two final teams - Brazil and Argentina - in a haka in front of the remaining players and spectators.
Brazil won the football World Cup.

Well, at least the "Wakatipu World Cup" football tournament held on the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Waitangi Day, Saturday.

The informal tournament was organised by Queenstown Rovers Football Club, inspired by the New Zealand team qualifying for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.

"We held a five-a-side tournament last year, which was a success, so this year we decided to model it on the World Cup and get as many people involved as possible," club president Steve Henderson said.

For the weekend's tournament 22 teams of five players signed up, and were divided into six pools.

Each game had two halves of 6min 30sec, and each team got to play at least three games with the best from each pool continuing to the final rounds.

Each team represented a nation from the actual World Cup, but not necessarily the the players' home country.

"The New Zealand team was made up of Irish players, and we had locals pretending to be from a number of different countries.

We had asked members of our club to bring friends along, and a number of visitors simply showed up on the day and signed up to enter," Mr Henderson said.

Prizes were sponsored by local companies.

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