{{Short description|French Polynesian politician (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Naea Bennett | honorific_suffix = | image = | caption = | office = | prime_minister = | term_start = | term_end = | predecessor = | successor = | office2 = | term_start2 = | term_end2 = | prime_minister2 = | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | office3 = | president3 = | term_start3 = | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | office4 = | president4 = | term_start4 = | term_end4 = | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | office7 = Minister of Youth, Crime Prevention and Sports | president7 = Édouard Fritch | term_start7 = 21 February 2022 | term_end7 = 15 May 2023 | predecessor7 = Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu | successor7 = Nahema Temarii | office8 = | prime_minister8 = | term_start8 = | term_end8 = | predecessor8 = | successor8 = | office9 = | prime_minister9 = | term_start9 = | term_end9 = | predecessor9 = | successor9 = | constituency_AM10 = | assembly10 = | term_start10 = | term_end10 = | predecessor10 = | successor10 = | constituency_AM11 = | assembly11 = | term_start11 = | term_end11 = | predecessor11 = | successor11 = | majority11 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|07|08|df=y}} | birth_place = Tahiti | death_date = | death_place = | party = Tapura Huiraatira | alma_mater = | website = }} {{Infobox football biography | name = | image = | fullname = | birth_date = | birth_place = | height = | position = Striker | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1995–2001 |clubs1 = AS Vénus |caps1 = ? |goals1 = ? | years2 = 2001–2014 |clubs2 = AS Pirae |caps2 = ? |goals2 = 91 | pcupdate = 21 October 2024 | nationalyears1 = 1996–2010 | nationalteam1 = Tahiti | nationalcaps1 = 17 | nationalgoals1 = 12 | manageryears1 = 2018 | managerclubs1 = Tahiti | manageryears2 = 2018–2022 | managerclubs2 = AS Pirae | ntupdate = 21 October 2024 | medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|TAH}}}} <small>(as player)</small> {{MedalComp|OFC Nations Cup}} {{Medal|RU|1996 Oceania|}} {{Medal|3rd|2002 New Zealand|}} {{medalSport|Men's Beach soccer}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|TAH}}}} <small>(as player)</small> {{MedalComp|FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup}} {{Medal|RU|2015 Portugal|}} {{Medal|RU|2017 Bahamas|}} {{MedalComp|OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup}} {{Medal|W|2011 Tahiti|}} {{medalSport|Men's Beach soccer}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|TAH}}}} <small>(as manager)</small> {{MedalComp|OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup}} {{Medal|W|2019 Tahiti|}} }}
'''Naea Tommy Irving Bennett'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ftf.pf/tiki-toa-la-liste-officielle-des-joueurs-revelee-sur-fifa-com/|title=FTF – TIKI TOA : la liste des joueurs révélée sur FIFA.com|work=Fédération Tahitienne de Football}}</ref> (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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Football-Focus-La-legende-Errol-Bennett_a165975.html |title=Football – Focus : La légende Errol Bennett |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=29 October 2017 |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.france-phaleristique.com/ordre_tahiti_nui_titulaires.htm |title=LISTE DES TITULAIRES |publisher= |date=21 July 2021 |access-date=22 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/L-Ordre-de-Tahiti-Nui-pour-les-Tiki-Toa_a84961.html |title=L'Ordre de Tahiti Nui pour les Tiki Toa |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=4 October 2013|access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref>
Bennett is a member of [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] and refuses to play football on Sundays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/new-era/1994/09/in-his-fathers-steps?lang=eng|title=In His Father's Steps|author=Janet Thomas|publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org|date=September 2014}}</ref> In 2015, he refused to play in the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup final due to his religious beliefs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Tiki-Toa-la-polemique-qui-gache-la-fete_a132676.html |title=Tiki Toa: la polémique qui gâche la fête |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=21 July 2015 |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
In 2018 he was appointed interim head coach of the Tahiti national football team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beachsoccer.com/news/naea-bennet-becomes-tahiti-s-eleven-a-side-national-coach |title=Naea Bennet becomes Tahiti's eleven-a-side National coach |date = 17 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Football-Tahiti-vs-Caledonie-Naea-Bennett-devient-coach-de-la-selection_a169661.html |title=Football - Tahiti vs Calédonie : Naea Bennett devient coach de la sélection |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
==Political career== In February 2022 he was appointed to the cabinet of Édouard Fritch as Minister of Youth, Crime Prevention and Sports.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/La-composition-du-nouveau-gouvernement-Fritch_a207297.html |title=La composition du nouveau gouvernement Fritch |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=21 February 2022 |access-date=1 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tahiti-infos.com/Virginie-Bruant-et-Naea-Bennett-entrent-au-gouvernement_a207291.html |title=Virginie Bruant et Naea Bennett entrent au gouvernement |publisher=Tahiti Infos |language=fr |date=21 February 2022 |access-date=2 November 2022}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1 || rowspan="3" | 4 June 2001 || rowspan="4" | North Harbour Stadium, Albany || rowspan="3" | {{fb|VAN}} || '''2'''-0 || rowspan="3" | 6–1 || rowspan="4" | 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification |- | 2 || '''3'''-0 |- | 3 || '''5'''-1 |- | 4 || 11 June 2001 || {{fb|COK}} || '''4'''-0 || 6–0 |- | 5 || rowspan="4" | 30 June 2003 || rowspan="6" | National Stadium, Suva || rowspan="4" | {{fb|FSM}} || '''8'''-0 || rowspan="4" | 17–0 || rowspan="8" | 2003 South Pacific Games |- | 6 || '''11'''-0 |- | 7 || '''14'''-0 |- | 8 || '''17'''-0 |- | 9 || rowspan="2" | 3 July 2003 || rowspan="2" | {{fb|PNG}}|| '''1'''-0 || rowspan="2" | 3–0 |- | 10 || '''3'''-0 |- | 11 || rowspan="2" | 7 July 2003 || rowspan="2" | Churchill Park, Lautoka || rowspan="2" | {{fb|TON}} || '''3'''-0 || rowspan="2" | 4–0 |- | 12 || '''4'''-0 |- |}
==Honours== ===Player=== '''Tahiti''' *OFC Nations Cup: Runner-up, 1996<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/96oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 1996|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref>; 3rd place, 2002<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/02oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 2002|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> *FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: Runner-up, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FBS/2015/pdf/FBS_2015_SquadLists.pdf|title=2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, List of Players-Tahiti Squad|author=FIFA|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalgazette.com/other/sport/article/20150720/sport-scoreboard-july-20-2015/|title=Sport Scoreboard, July 20, 2015 |author=The Rotal Gazette|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref>, 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/FBS/2017/pdf/FBS_2017_SquadLists.pdf|title=2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, List of Players-Tahiti Squad|author=FIFA|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/second-has-to-suffice-for-tahiti/|title=Second has to suffice for Tahiti|author=Oceania Football Confederation|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref> *OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup: 2011 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://210.48.80.94/OFC/Portals/0/Images/Articles/MD3%20SOL-TAH%20Match%20Summary.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704134453/http://210.48.80.94/OFC/Portals/0/Images/Articles/MD3%20SOL-TAH%20Match%20Summary.pdf|url-status=dead|title=2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship, Tahiti Squadron List|archive-date=July 4, 2011|accessdate=April 26, 2026}}</ref>
===Manager=== '''Tahiti''' *OFC Beach Soccer Nations Cup: 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceaniafootball.com/competition-list/ofc-beach-soccer-nations-cup-2019-final-22449635/tahiti-solomon-islands-140110383/|title=2019 OFC Beach Soccer Men's Nations Cup, Tahiti List|author=Oceania Football Confedeation|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beachsoccer.com/tahiti-seal-ticket-to-the-world-cup|title=Tahiti seal ticket to the World Cup!|author=Beach Soccer|access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{NFT player|pid=6476}} *{{FIFA player|184520}}
{{Navboxes |title=Tahiti squads | bg = red | fg = #FFFFFF |list1= {{Tahiti squad 2000 OFC Nations Cup}} {{Tahiti squad 2002 OFC Nations Cup}} }} {{Tahiti national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Naea}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:French Polynesian men's footballers Category:French Polynesian beach soccer players Category:Tahiti men's international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:A.S. Pirae players Category:French Polynesian Latter Day Saints Category:Tahiti national football team managers Category:1996 OFC Nations Cup players Category:2000 OFC Nations Cup players Category:2002 OFC Nations Cup players Category:Government ministers of French Polynesia Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of French Polynesia
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