Paulson Panapa

Paulson Panapa (born 23 February 1967 in Tarawa) is a Tuvaluan President of the Tuvalu National Football Association (TNFA).

Personal life
He is father of George Panapa and uncle of James Lepaio.

Club career
In its youth he played for Motufoua SecSchool 1st Eleven Team. From 1985 up to 1997 he played always for Tofaga A. Also he was in 2008 and 2009 coach of Tofaga A.

TNFA career
Panapa were as from 2001 up to 2005 President of the TNFA, the football association of Tuvalu. Since 2010 he has been President. Under its control the association is actively busy with obtaining the membership of the FIFA, something that in 2008, has not succeeded. The predecessor of Panapa, Tapugao Falefou, did not succeed in obtaining the membership, in spite of a visit to the head office of FIFA in Zürich.

Panapa and the TNFA cooperate actively the foundation Dutch Support Tuvalu, this has among others conducted that Panapa have decided allow a Dutchman to the association governing board. A unique situation worldwide, Panapa initiated.

By the end of May 2011 was the Paulson Panapa which could make confessed officially that Foppe de Haan the new national coach of Tuvalu became. The first foreign national coach for Tuvalu. In a letter addressed to Foppe de Haan let Panapa to be possible it an honour know that coach with a worldwide reputation want will themselves use for the football in a small country as Tuvalu.

Tofaga A

 * Benson and Hedges Cup: (1) 1997