Naea Tommy Irving Bennett (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.
Football career In 2002, Naea Bennett took part in four 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 eight matches for as many wins as losses and five goals scored. In October 2013 he was appointed a knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui.
Bennett is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and refuses to play football on Sundays. In 2015, he refused to play in the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final due to his religious beliefs.
In 2018 he was appointed interim head coach of the Tahiti national football team.
Political career In February 2022 he was appointed to the cabinet of Édouard Fritch as Minister of Youth, Crime Prevention and Sports.
Career statistics International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsTahiti1996101997–1998–1999–2000102001442002302003682004–2005–2006–2007–2008–2009–201020Total1712
Scores and results list Tahiti's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bennett goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Naea Bennett No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 4 June 2001 North Harbour Stadium, Albany, New Zealand 2–0 6–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 2 3–0 3 5–1 4 11 June 2001 North Harbour Stadium, Albany, New Zealand 4–0 6–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 30 June 2003 National Stadium, Suva, Fiji 8–0 17–0 2003 South Pacific Games 6 11–0 7 14–0 8 17–0 9 3 July 2003 National Stadium, Suva, Fiji 1–0 3–0 2003 South Pacific Games 10 3–0 11 7 July 2003 Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji 3–0 4–0 2003 South Pacific Games 12 4–0
Honours Player Tahiti OFC Nations Cup: Runner-up, 1996; 3rd place, 2002 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: Runner-up, 2015, 2017 OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup: 2011
Manager Tahiti OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup: 2019
References
External links