Epeli Saukuru
{{Short description|Fijian footballer (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Epeli Saukuru
| image =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|8|4}}
| birth_place = Fiji
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Rewa
| clubnumber = 14
| years1 = 2008–2010 | caps1 = | goals1 = | clubs1 = Ba
| years2 = 2011–2018 | caps2 = | goals2 = | clubs2 = Rewa
| years3 = 2018–2018 | caps3 = | goals3 = | clubs3 = Lautoka
| years4 = 2018– | caps4 = | goals4 = | clubs4 = Rewa
| nationalyears1 = 2017–
| nationalteam1 = Fiji
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 =
| nationalteam2 = Fiji (beach soccer)
| nationalcaps2 =
| nationalgoals2 =
| club-update = 17 January 2018
| nationalteam-update = 30 September 2017
}}
Epeli Saukuru (born 4 August 1988) is a Fijian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Rewa, the Fiji national football team and the Fiji national beach soccer team.
Club career
Saukuru started his career with Nadroga, but in June 2008 transferred to Navua for a $10,000 fee.{{cite news |title=Destiny's child |work=Fiji Times |page=1 |date=2 June 2008 |via=EBSCOHost}}{{cite news |title=Navua unveils teen star |work=Fiji Times |page=32 |date=2 June 2008 |via=EBSCOHost}} In 2009 he had planned to stay with Navua,{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2009/01/12/saukuru-remains-in-navua-for-2009/ |title=Saukuru remains in Navua for 2009 |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=16 June 2023}} but was exchanged with Rewa a month later.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2009/02/02/saukuru-in-for-rewa/ |title=Saukuru in for Rewa |work=Fiji Sun |date=2 February 2009 |access-date=16 June 2023}} In May 2010 he was suspended for two matches and fined after being red carded for dangerous tackling during a match against Suva.{{cite news |title=Axe falls on Saukuru |work=Fiji Times |page= |date=18 May 2010 |via=EBSCOHost}}{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2010/05/17/saukuru-suspended/ |title=Saukuru suspended |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=16 June 2023}}
In January 2018 he moved to Lautoka to play with them in the 2018 OFC Champions League.{{cite news|url=http://oceaniafc.com/fiji-international-iosefo-verevou-new-club-shock-transfer|title=Fiji international Iosefo Verevou has a new club after shock transfer|date=16 January 2018|work=Oceaniafc.com|accessdate=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120195647/http://oceaniafc.com/fiji-international-iosefo-verevou-new-club-shock-transfer|archive-date=20 January 2018|url-status=dead}} and later than year, he returned to Rewa.
International career
Saukuru made his international debut for the Fiji on 25 March 2017. In a 2–0 defeat against New Zealand he played the whole match. Saukuru has scored two goals: in a 1–1 draw against the Solomon Islands and in a 2–1 loss against New Caledonia.
Personal life
Saukuru has a younger brother, Iosefo Verevou, who is also a football player.{{cite news|url=http://fijivillage.com/sport/Verevou-excited-to-play-alongside-older-brother-for-Fiji-rk29s5/|title=Verevou excited to play alongside older brother for Fiji |date=24 May 2017|work=Fiji Village|accessdate=15 June 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NFT}}
- {{Soccerway}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saukuru, Epeli}}
Category:Fijian men's footballers
Category:Fiji men's international footballers
Category:Fijian beach soccer players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
{{Fiji-footy-bio-stub}}