Erroll Bennett (born 7 May 1950) is a former Tahitian footballer, who spent most of his career with AS Central Sport. Bennett placed fifteenth in a 1999 poll by International Federation of Football History & Statistics to find the Player of the Century for Oceania. Bennett was part of the Tahitian national squad for the

1973 Oceania Cup The 1973 OFC Nations Cup was the first Oceania Football Confederation, Oceania-wide football tournament ever held. It took place in New Zealand from 17 February 1973–24 February 1973. All matches were held at Newmarket Park, in Auckland, ...

, the first ever Oceania-wide international soccer tournament. Bennett scored three goals in the tournament, and played in the final, which Tahiti lost 2–0 to New Zealand. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1977 after which he refused to play football on Sundays. Following Bennett's baptism,

Napoléon Spitz Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

, the head of Bennett's team, held a meeting in which he said his team would stop Sunday play and all football teams in that division agreed to move games to weeknights. Bennett was also a police officer in Tahiti. He is the father of

Naea Bennett Naea Tommy Irving Bennett (born 8 July 1977) is a French Polynesian footballer, politician, and Cabinet Minister. He plays as a striker for AS Pirae and also represents the Tahiti national beach soccer team. He is son of Erroll Bennett, a form ...

, who also played for Tahiti national team.Article from Richard Vansam, in ''France Football'', n°1.855, 27 october 1981, page 23.

References

Michael Otterson Michael R. Otterson was the managing director of Public Affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 2008 to 2016. In April 2016, the church announced that he would retire at the end of August 2016 and be replace ...

. "Erroll Bennett: Tahitian Soccer Star", '' Ensign'', Oct. 1982.
''Meridian Magazine'' article with section on Bennett
1950 births Converts to Mormonism French Polynesian Latter Day Saints Living people French Polynesian men's footballers Tahiti men's international footballers French Polynesian police officers 1973 Oceania Cup players 1980 Oceania Cup players Men's association football forwards French police officers {{Tahiti-footy-bio-stub