by Nicholas Duck
Warragul student and Gippsland United player Declan Paku enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime last month when he represented Cook Islands at the Oceania Football Confederation Under 16s Men's Championships in the Solomon Islands.
Declan, 16, earned his position in the national team thanks to some strong play overseas and through his father, who was born and raised in the Cook Islands.

As the only Australian-born player in the side, he played at centre ba