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Naea Bennett

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Naea Bennett
Minister of Youth, Crime Prevention and Sports
In office
21 February 2022 – 15 May 2023
PresidentÉdouard Fritch
Preceded byHeremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu
Succeeded byNahema Temarii
Personal details
Born (1977-07-08) 8 July 1977 (age 47)
Tahiti
Political partyTapura Huiraatira
Personal information
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2001 AS Vénus ? (?)
2001–2014 AS Pirae ? (91)
International career‡
1996–2010 Tahiti 17 (12)
Managerial career
2018 Tahiti
2018–2022 AS Pirae
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Tahiti
OFC Nations Cup
Runner-up 1996 Oceania
Third place 2002 New Zealand
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 October 2024

Naea Tommy Irving Bennett[1] (born 8 July 1977) is a French Polynesian former footballer, politician, and former Cabinet Minister. He last played as a striker for AS Pirae and also represented the Tahiti national beach soccer team. He is son of Erroll Bennett, a former Tahitian footballer who was runner-up at 1973 and 1980 OFC Nations Cup.[2]

Football career

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In 2002, Naea Bennett took part in 4 qualifying matches for the World Cup with the Tahiti team. While playing for AS Pirae, Bennett joined the Tahiti beach soccer team, and competed in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. In all he took part in 8 matches for as many wins as losses and 5 goals scored. In October 2013 he was appointed a knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui.[3][4]

Bennett is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and refuses to play football on Sundays.[5] In 2015, he refused to play in the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final due to his religious beliefs.[6]

In 2018 he was appointed interim head coach of the Tahiti national football team.[7][8]

Political career

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In February 2022 he was appointed to the cabinet of Édouard Fritch as Minister of Youth, Crime Prevention and Sports.[9][10]

International goals

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# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 June 2001 North Harbour Stadium, Albany  Vanuatu 2-0 6–1 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2 3-0
3 5-1
4 11 June 2001  Cook Islands 4-0 6–0
5 30 June 2003 National Stadium, Suva  Micronesia 8-0 17–0 2003 South Pacific Games
6 11-0
7 14-0
8 17-0
9 3 July 2003  Papua New Guinea 1-0 3–0
10 3-0
11 7 July 2003 Churchill Park, Lautoka  Tonga 3-0 4–0
12 4-0

Honours

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Tahiti

References

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  1. ^ "FTF – TIKI TOA : la liste des joueurs révélée sur FIFA.com". Fédération Tahitienne de Football.
  2. ^ "Football – Focus : La légende Errol Bennett" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  3. ^ "LISTE DES TITULAIRES". 21 July 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  4. ^ "L'Ordre de Tahiti Nui pour les Tiki Toa" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ Janet Thomas (September 2014). "In His Father's Steps". churchofjesuschrist.org.
  6. ^ "Tiki Toa: la polémique qui gâche la fête" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Naea Bennet becomes Tahiti's eleven-a-side National coach". 17 March 2018.
  8. ^ "Football - Tahiti vs Calédonie : Naea Bennett devient coach de la sélection" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. ^ "La composition du nouveau gouvernement Fritch" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Virginie Bruant et Naea Bennett entrent au gouvernement" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Oceania Nations Cup 1996". Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Oceania Nations Cup 2002". Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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