The Kiribati National Championship is the top division of competitive football in the nation of Kiribati, founded in 1984 by the Kiribati Islands Football Association, the nations football governing body. The association and the National Championships are based in the capital city, South Tarawa. The competition reunites only temporary council teams (one council team on each island, two council teams on Tabiteuea and 3 teams on Tarawa) and is disputed during Te Runga, the National Games held every two years. Previously, the competition consisted of 23 teams, divided into four groups. Currently, the league is divided into the Kiribati National Championship and the Second Kiribati League. There are 16 teams competing in the top division at this level.
Current champions (2023)
TeamLocationStadiumCapacityBetio Town CouncilBairikiBairiki National Stadium2,500
Current clubs These are the clubs in Kiribati National Championship :
Banaba Betio F.C Betio Town Council F.C. Butaritari Christmas FC Kuria Maiana FC Makin FC Marakei F.C. Nikunau Nonouti FC North Tarawa Island Terunga Onotoa Islands F.C Poland F.C.. Tarawa Urban Council F.C. Temana Team FC
Previous winners Previous winners are:rsssf.org; Kiribati 2010
SeasonChampion ResultRunners-upVenue1984South Tarawa3–1AbaiangUnknown1985–1986: not known (possibly not held)1987Makin1–0AbemamaUnknown1988–1994: not known (many years: not held)1995Betio Town Council2–1MarakeiBairiki National Stadium1996Tarawa Urban Council5–1BanabaBairiki National Stadium1997Tarawa Urban Council4–3ChristmasBairiki National Stadium1998: not held1999Betio Town Council3–0KuriaBairiki National Stadium2000Onotoa1–0North Tarawa Island TerungaBairiki National Stadium2001: not held2002Arorae3–2NikunauBairiki National Stadium2003: not held2004Tarawa Urban Council2–1Betio Town CouncilBairiki National Stadium2005: not held2006Betio Town Council3–1Tarawa Urban CouncilBairiki National Stadium2007–2008: not held2009Betio Town Council2–1Temana TeamBairiki National Stadium2010Makin1–1 , MarakeiBairiki National Stadium2011–2012: not held2013Makin4–0ButaritariBairiki National Stadium2014Christmas2–1NonoutiBairiki National Stadium2015–2016: not held2017Nonouti2–0AranukaBairiki National Stadium2018: not held2019Betio Town Council3–2Tarawa Urban CouncilBairiki National Stadium2020–2022: not held2023Betio Town Council3–2Tarawa Urban CouncilBairiki National Stadium
By titles ClubWinsWinning yearsBetio Town Council61995, 1999, 2006, 2009, 2019, 2023Makin31987, 2010, 2013Tarawa Urban Council1996, 1997, 2004South Tarawa11987Onotoa2000Arorae2002Christmas2014Nonouti2017
Topscorers YearBest scorersTeamGoals2004Atiino Baraniko Betio Town Council 152006Bebe Tureiaa Betio Town Council
References