View source for Wantok Cup

{{infobox football tournament
| current              = 
| logo                 = 
| founded              = 2008
| region               = [[Melanesia|Western Melanesia]]
| number of teams      = 3
| current champions    = [[Solomon Islands]]
| most successful team = Solomon Islands (2 titles)
}}

The '''Wantok Cup''' was an international football competition between the national teams of three [[Melanesia]]n countries: [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]] and [[Vanuatu]]. The Cup was to be a thrice-a-year competition, to be held in July (twice) and September (once), as part of independence commemoration celebrations in the Solomons, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, respectively.<ref name="Wantok Cup to become annual event">[http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/wantok-cup-to-become-annual-event "Wantok Cup to become annual event"]{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Oceania Football Confederation, July 10, 2008</ref> The inaugural edition of the Cup was held during independence celebrations in the Solomon Islands, from July 3 to July 7, 2008,<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2276907.htm?tab=sport "Wantok Cup celebrates independence"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617193645/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2276907.htm?tab=sport |date=2008-06-17 }}, ABC Radio Australia, June 17, 2008</ref> and was won by the hosts.

Eddie Ngava, General Secretary of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, had stated: "We hope this will be the inaugural start of the Wantok Cup when each of the three countries will be having a competition on each of their countries' independence days."<ref name="radioaustralia.net.au">[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2277033.htm?tab=latest "Hopes for Wantok Cup to become regular competition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814010441/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200806/s2277033.htm?tab=latest |date=2008-08-14 }}, ABC Radio Australia, June 17, 2008</ref> The Cup has been described by the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] as "a tournament reminiscent of the now defunct [[Melanesia Cup|Melanesian Cup]]".<ref>[http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/wantok-cup-honiara-2008-solomon-islands-name-64-man-squad "Wantok Cup Honiara 2008 - Solomon Islands name 64-man squad"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905233816/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcnewsdetails/wantok-cup-honiara-2008-solomon-islands-name-64-man-squad |date=2008-09-05 }}, Oceania Football Confederation, June 19, 2008</ref> Ngava, however, has stated that "these two competitions are not linked in any way".<ref name="solomontimes.com">[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2011 "Ngava on the New Wantok Cup Competition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510043043/http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2011 |date=2010-05-10 }}, ''Solomon Times'', June 27, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.fijilive.com/sports/football/news/2008/07/03/3878.Fijilive "Fiji out of newly formed Wantok Cup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015203350/http://www.fijilive.com/sports/football/news/2008/07/03/3878.Fijilive |date=2008-10-15 }}, FijiLive, July 3, 2008</ref>

''Wantok'' is a [[Tok Pisin]] and [[Pijin]] word which comes from the [[English language|English]] "one talk", and means people who speak the same language, belong to the same culture, and are comrades.<ref>[http://www.oceanie.org/graphes/wantok.html "Wantok"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924054629/http://www.oceanie.org/graphes/wantok.html |date=2015-09-24 }}, Jean-Marc Philibert, [[Musée de la civilisation]], 2000</ref> The name was chosen so as to emphasise the [[Bislama#Pacific creole comparison|similarities]] of the [[pidgin language]]s spoken in the three countries - namely Tok Pisin, Pijin and [[Bislama]].<ref name="solomontimes.com"/>

==Difficulties==

From the start, the competition was plagued by financial difficulties. Papua New Guinea's team withdrew from the inaugural edition at the last moment, citing financial constraints, and Vanuatu announced that it would be unable to host the second edition of the Cup, for the same reason. Nonetheless, the Wantok Cup was expected to continue, Vanuatu having pledged to host it in July 2009.<ref name="Vanuatu delay Wantok Cup">[http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2264&Itemid=26 "Vanuatu delay Wantok Cup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103718/http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2264&Itemid=26 |date=2011-07-16 }}, ''Solomon Star'', July 18, 2008</ref>

The 2009 games did not take place. The second edition of the Wantok Cup was then due to be hosted by Vanuatu to coincide with its Independence Day celebrations in July 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=4800 "2011 SP Games Team Starts Preparations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129223509/http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=4800 |date=2010-11-29 }}, ''Solomon Times'', January 8, 2010</ref> In March 2010, the ''[[Vanuatu Daily Post]]'' commented that the [[Solomon Islands Football Federation]] was preparing seriously for the Cup, while the [[Vanuatu Football Federation]] was yet to do so.<ref name="dailypost.vu">[http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5961/categoryId/6/Solomon-Islands-gearing-up-for-the-Wantok-Cup.aspx "Solomon Islands gearing up for the Wantok Cup"]{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', March 23, 2010</ref> On July 9, the ''[[Solomon Star]]'' reported that Papua New Guinea would not be attending, as it was "occupied by other football programs", and that even scheduled host Vanuatu had yet to confirm it would be taking part. The article concluded: "If Vanuatu agrees to host the tournament then it is likely that the Wantok Cup will only feature Solomon Islands and Vanuatu."<ref name="Proposed Wantok Cup looks gloomy">[http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/6910-proposed-wantok-cup-looks-gloomy "Proposed Wantok Cup looks gloomy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103619/http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/6910-proposed-wantok-cup-looks-gloomy |date=2011-07-16 }}, ''Solomon Star'', July 9, 2010</ref> There is no record of the July 2010 edition of the Cup having taken place - presumably due to a withdrawal by the hosts.

In 2011, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands met for four games, beginning with a match in the Solomons on its Independence Day and culminating in a match held in Vanuatu on the latter's Independence Day, which had been the aim of the Wantok Cup, although the media did not use the Cup's name. Vanuatu won the final match 2-0, and the four matches on aggregate by 3-2. Nonetheless, if one considers the Solomons' Independence Day matches (July 7 & 9) separately from those held around Vanuatu's Independence Day (July 27 & 30), and treats them as separate competitions, then the Solomons won the former 2-1 on aggregate, and Vanuatu the latter 2-0 on aggregate.<ref>[http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/11533-bonitos-fall-to-vanuatu "Bonitos fall to Vanuatu"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402084559/http://www.solomonstarnews.com/sports/national/11533-bonitos-fall-to-vanuatu |date=2012-04-02 }}, ''Solomon Star'', August 1, 2011</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070915233705/http://fifa.com/associations/association=sol/fixturesresults/gender=m/index.html Solomon Islands men's football team fixtures and results, July to September 2011], [[FIFA]]</ref>

No further editions of the Cup have been reported as scheduled; the Cup appears to be defunct as such, or to continue only in an informal manner.

Thus, Papua New Guinea never actually competed in a Wantok Cup event. [[New Caledonia]] never participated in the adult Wantok Cup either, but sent a national team to the inaugural (and so far only) edition of the Junior Wantok Cup in January 2010.

==Results==

===Wins===
{| class="wikitable"
| 2  || |{{fb|SOL}}   || [[July 2008 first Wantok Cup|2008]]; [[2011 Wantok Cup|2011 (first)]]
|-
| 1  || |{{fb|VAN}}  || [[2011 Wantok Cup|2011 (second)]]
|-
| 0  || |{{fb|PNG}} || 
|-
|}

===Summaries===
The [[July 2008 second Wantok Cup|second edition of the Cup]], due to be hosted in Vanuatu in July 2008, was cancelled due to the host's financial difficulties.<ref name="Vanuatu delay Wantok Cup" /> There is no record of the July 2010 edition having taken place. Matches played in 2011 do not appear to have been formally described as an edition of the Wantok Cup.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: center;"
|-
!rowspan="1" width="5%"|Year
!rowspan="1" width="7%"|Host
!rowspan="1" width="10%"|Winner
!rowspan="1" width="10%"|Runner-up
!rowspan="1" width="10%"|3rd Place
!rowspan="1" width="10%"|4th Place
|-style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|2008 (1st)<br />''[[July 2008 first Wantok Cup|Details]]''
|[[Solomon Islands]]
|'''{{fb-big|Solomon Islands}} U23'''
|{{fb-big|Vanuatu}}
|{{fb-big|Solomon Islands}}
|{{fb-big|Papua New Guinea}} ''(withdrew)''
|-
|2008 (2nd)
|[[Vanuatu]]
|''event cancelled''
|
|
|
|-style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|2008 (3rd)
|[[Papua New Guinea]]
|''event cancelled''
|
|
|
|-
|2010
|[[Vanuatu]]
|''event cancelled''
|
|
|
|-style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|2011 (1st)<br />''[[2011 Wantok Cup|Details]]'' ''(informal)''
|[[Solomon Islands]]
|'''{{fb-big|Solomon Islands}}''' 
|{{fb-big|Vanuatu}}
|''none''
|''none''
|-
|-style="background: #D0E6FF;"
|2011 (2nd)<br />''[[2011 Wantok Cup|Details]]'' ''(informal)''
|[[Vanuatu]]
|'''{{fb-big|Vanuatu}}''' 
|{{fb-big|Solomon Islands}}
|''none''
|''none''
|-
|}

==Senior editions==

===July 2008 (first)===
{{main|July 2008 first Wantok Cup}}
The inaugural edition of the Wantok Cup was held during Independence Day celebrations in [[Honiara]], Solomon Islands, from July 3 to July 7, 2008. The host nation fielded two teams, and Vanuatu one. The Solomons' team of under-23 year-olds won the Cup. Though it was intended to be the first in a series of regular events, all subsequent editions of the adult Wantok Cup were cancelled.

===July 2008 (second)===
The second edition of the Wantok Cup was scheduled to be held during Independence Day celebrations in [[Vanuatu]], in late July 2008.<ref name="radioaustralia.net.au"/> [[Papua New Guinea]] having withdrawn from [[July 2008 first Wantok Cup|the first edition of the Cup]] earlier in July, due to financial reasons, the country's participation in the second edition remained uncertain. The [[Solomon Islands]] was to be represented by two teams.<ref>[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2109 "SIFF Approves Two Teams in Wantok Cup"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103516/http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2109 |date=2011-07-16 }}, ''Solomon Times'', July 17, 2008</ref>

On July 18, it was announced that Vanuatu would be unable to host the Cup that month, due to financial difficulties. The second edition of the Wantok Cup was consequently cancelled. The Vanuatu Football Federation stated that the country would host the Cup in July 2009.<ref name="Vanuatu delay Wantok Cup"/> In the end, no games were held in 2009.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===September 2008===
The third edition of the Wantok Cup was scheduled to be held during Independence Day celebrations in [[Papua New Guinea]], in September 2008.<ref name="Wantok Cup to become annual event"/> The [[Solomon Islands]] initially confirmed their participation, and were due to play against the hosts on September 20,<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2359748.htm?tab=sport "Solomons name super strength team for PNG friendly"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919082648/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2359748.htm?tab=sport |date=2008-09-19 }}, ABC Radio Australia, September 9, 2008</ref><ref>[http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3124&change=100&changeown=102&Itemid=42 "Bonito building for future, says Moli"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103153/http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3124&change=100&changeown=102&Itemid=42 |date=2011-07-16 }}, ''Solomon Star'', August 28, 2008</ref> but then pulled out, citing financial constraints.<ref>[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2571 "Bonito Tour to PNG Cancelled"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716103524/http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2571 |date=2011-07-16 }}, ''Solomon Times'', September 12, 2008</ref> The September 2008 edition of the Wantok Cup was then expected to be an encounter between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

This edition of the Cup never took place. The [[July 2010 Wantok Cup|second edition of the Cup]] was rescheduled for July 2010, to be hosted by Vanuatu.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

{{football box | date = 
|team1 = {{fb-rt|PNG}} 
|score = ''cancelled''
|report= 
|team2 = {{fb|VAN}}
|goals1 = 
|goals2 = 
|stadium = 
}}

===July 2010===
The second edition of the Wantok Cup was due to be held in [[Vanuatu]], and to begin on July 31, 2010.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="Proposed Wantok Cup looks gloomy"/> Had the Cup being held according to schedule, this would have been the seventh or eighth edition, as the Wantok Cup was supposed to be held thrice yearly. Following the [[July 2008 first Wantok Cup|inaugural edition in July 2008]] in the [[Solomon Islands]], scheduled editions for 2008 were cancelled, and no games were held in 2009.

The [[Solomon Islands national football team]] confirmed its participation.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>[http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=5012 "National Football Team Begins Training"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129222003/http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=5012 |date=2010-11-29 }}, ''Solomon Times'', March 18, 2010</ref> As of early July, it was the only country to have done so. The [[Oceania Football Confederation]] in February spoke of the Solomon Islands team facing Vanuatu in the Wantok Cup in July, thus suggesting that Papua New Guinea would be absent, or that its participation was unconfirmed.<ref>[http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/888a6426-2534-40ac-a877-66fb2501fd6e/Default.aspx "Last chance for national team hopefuls"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820194557/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/888a6426-2534-40ac-a877-66fb2501fd6e/Default.aspx |date=2011-08-20 }}, [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]], February 22, 2010</ref> In March, the ''[[Vanuatu Daily Post]]'' commented that the [[Solomon Islands Football Federation]] was preparing seriously for the Cup, while the [[Vanuatu Football Federation]] was yet to do so.<ref name="dailypost.vu"/> On July 9, the ''[[Solomon Star]]'' reported that Papua New Guinea would not be attending, as it was "occupied by other football programs", and that even scheduled host Vanuatu had yet to confirm it would be taking part. The article concluded: "If Vanuatu agrees to host the tournament then it is likely that the Wantok Cup will only feature Solomon Islands and Vanuatu."<ref name="Proposed Wantok Cup looks gloomy"/>

There is no record of the July 2010 edition of the Cup having taken place - presumably due to a withdrawal by the hosts. No further editions of the Cup have been reported as scheduled.

{{football box | date = July 31, 2010
|team1 = {{fb-rt|VAN}} 
|score = ''cancelled''
|report= 
|team2 = {{fb-rt|SOL}}
|goals1 = 
|goals2 = 
|stadium = 
| attendance =  
| referee = 
}}

===July 2011 (1st & 2nd)===
{{main|2011 Wantok Cup}}
These may not have been official editions of the Cup. Nonetheless, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands met for four games in July, beginning with two in the Solomons on and around its independence day (July 7), followed by two match in Vanuatu on and around that country's independence day, July 30 - as intended originally by the Wantok Cup. On aggregate, over the span of the four games, Vanuatu scored three goals to the Solomons' two. If the events are considered separately, Solomon Islands won its Independence Day games 2-1 on aggregate, while Vanuatu won its Independence Day games on aggregate {{nowrap|2-0.}}

==Junior edition==
There has also been a Junior Wantok Cup, for under-15s. Originally scheduled to be launched in 2008, it was -like the adult version- delayed. The official inaugural edition was hosted by Vanuatu in January 2010, with five teams competing (three from the host country, one from the Solomon Islands and one from [[New Caledonia]]). The Solomon Islands defeated Vanuatu South 4-1 to take the title, replicating the achievement of their adult counterparts.<ref>[http://vanuafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/tvl-u15-u16-wantok-tournament-program.html "TVL U15-U16 Wantok Tournament Program"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708071904/http://vanuafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/tvl-u15-u16-wantok-tournament-program.html |date=2011-07-08 }}, VanuaFoot, January 14, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.onetelevision.com.sb/index.php/sport/international-participation/12546-the-learn-and-play-team-takeout-vanuatu-competition "The Learn and Play team takeout Vanuatu competition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723215334/http://www.onetelevision.com.sb/index.php/sport/international-participation/12546-the-learn-and-play-team-takeout-vanuatu-competition |date=2011-07-23 }}, One Television, January 23, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.onetelevision.com.sb/index.php/sport/soccer/12569-the-learn-and-play-heroes-return-after-winning-vanuatu-tournament "The Learn and Play heroes return after winning Vanuatu tournament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723215428/http://www.onetelevision.com.sb/index.php/sport/soccer/12569-the-learn-and-play-heroes-return-after-winning-vanuatu-tournament |date=2011-07-23 }}, One Television, January 21, 2010</ref>
<ref>[http://vanuafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/tvl-wantok-u15-tournament-day-4-updates.html "TVL Wantok U15 Tournament - Day 4 updates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708071824/http://vanuafoot.blogspot.com/2010/01/tvl-wantok-u15-tournament-day-4-updates.html |date=2011-07-08 }}, VanuaFoot, January 21, 2010</ref>

'''Wins'''
{| class="wikitable"
| 1  || |{{fb|SOL}}   || January 2010
|-
| 0  || |{{fb|VAN}}  ||
|-
| 0  || |{{fb|NCL}} ||  
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[Papua New Guinea national football team]]
* [[Solomon Islands national football team]]
* [[Vanuatu national football team]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}

{{OFC competitions}}

[[Category:Wantok Cup| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2008]]
[[Category:International association football competitions hosted by Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:International association football competitions hosted by the Solomon Islands]]
[[Category:International association football competitions hosted by Vanuatu]]