{{short description|Australian soccer player}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mason Antony Čavka Tatafu | fullname = Mason Antony Čavka Tatafu | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|4|17|df=yes}} | birth_place = Australia | height = 1.87 m | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Hume City FC | clubnumber = 5 | youthyears1 = 2010–2014 | youthclubs1 = Perth SC | youthyears2 = 2014–2021 | youthclubs2 = Perth Glory | collegeyears1 = 2021–2023 | college1 = Hofstra Pride | collegecaps1 = 37 | collegegoals1 = 4 | collegeyears2 = 2023–2025 | college2 = Louisville Cardinals | collegecaps2 = 30 | collegegoals2 = 2 | years1 = 2020–2021 | clubs1 = Perth Glory NPL | caps1 = 23 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2020–2021 | clubs2 = Perth Glory | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2022 | clubs3 = Long Island Rough Riders | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2024 | clubs4 = Des Moines Menace | caps4 = 7 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2025– | clubs5 = Hume City | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 1 | club-update = July 2025 }}
'''Mason Tatafu''' (born 17 April 2002) is an Australian professional footballer who plays primarily as a Centre-back for Hume City FC in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.
==Career== Tatafu made his senior debut in July 2020 playing for Perth Glory NPL in National Premier Leagues Western Australia. He made his professional debut on 27 November 2020 against Ulsan Hyundai in the 2020 AFC Champions League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2020/11/27/asia/afc-champions-league/ulsan-horang-i/perth-glory-fc/3191574/|title=ULSAN VS. PERTH GLORY 2 - 0|website=uk.soccerway.com|date=27 November 2020|access-date=20 January 2021}}</ref> On 20 January 2021, he made his A-League debut, coming on as a substitute for the final few moments of a 5–3 win over Adelaide United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2021/01/20/australia/a-league/perth-glory-fc/adelaide-united/3425488/|title=PERTH GLORY VS. ADELAIDE UNITED 5 - 3|website=uk.soccerway.com|date=20 January 2021|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
In August 2021, Tatafu started college at Hofstra University and started playing for Hofstra Pride.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gohofstra.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/mason-tatafu/7357|title=Mason Tatafu|publisher=Hofstra Pride|date=17 August 2021|access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.liherald.com/stories/hofstra-eyes-colonial-athletic-association-title,134678|title=Hofstra eyes Colonial Athletic Association title|first=Andrew|last=Coen|newspaper=LI Herald|date=10 September 2021|quote=...along with local defenders Mason Tatafu and Shane Salmon in front of Speel in net.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehofstrachronicle.com/category/sports/2021/9/13/mens-soccer-falls-on-road-to-northeastern-in-caa-opener|title=Men's soccer falls on road to Northeastern in CAA opener|first=Kenny|last=Forman|newspaper=The Hofstra Chronicle|date=13 September 2021|quote=Holger Maaloe and Ryan Carmichael assisted freshman defender Mason Tatafu on the first goal of his collegiate career.}}</ref>
At Hofstra, Tatafu made 37 appearances over two seasons, scored four goals, and helped the team win back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championships in 2021 and 2022 — the program's first repeat titles since 2015 — while achieving their highest-ever NCAA RPI ranking at #8. He was named CAA Rookie of the Year, selected to the All-CAA Third Team, and ranked among the top 10 freshmen in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. In the 2022 offseason, he also played USL League Two with the Long Island Rough Riders, helping them reach their first USL2 National Final and being ranked as the #10 USL2 Top Prospect.
Tatafu transferred to the University of Louisville in August 2023, making 30 appearances and scoring twice. With Louisville, he reached the ACC semi-finals and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2024, he joined Des Moines Menace in USL2, scoring once in seven appearances as they won their division and reached the divisional final.
In June 2025, Tatafu returned to Australia, signing mid-season with Hume City FC in the National Premier Leagues Victoria. Primarily playing as a centre-back, he made two appearances totaling 75 minutes and scored once in his opening matches for the club.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|mason-tatafu/643873}} *[https://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=197859805&client=0-10183-150900-402784-25084615 NPL stats]
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tatafu, Mason}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:Australian men's soccer players Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Perth Glory FC players Category:National Premier Leagues players Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
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