Fedcalfoot: You have just started in your position as General Secretary at the FCF, to start can you please explain your professional background and your journey to managing the governing body of Caledonian fooball ?
Nicolas Guillemard: For the last four years I was Deputy Director of Education for the North Province. Before that, I was Director at Houaïlou High School and also a former teacher. I have a Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies (Diploma of Advanced Studies) in Kanak identity and I also wrote a thesis on violence and delinquency in Tahiti. All this to say that teaching and culture have always been at the centre of my projects and it is what led me to apply for the position of FCF General Secretary. Football is the number one sport in New Caledonia and its role for the youth of the country is important. There is a lot of work to do on educational and that’s what I like about it.
Fedcalfoot : What are the most important projects you will make your priority?
N.G: The first of these things, always in accordance with the Executive Committee, is to work on a more rigorous multi-year financial management plan. Financial management is essential and must be fundamentally linked to all things technical. It’s this which will allow us to meet the expectations on the field. Another big task will be the technical centre in Paita. Our desire is to quickly make the technical centre the heart of Caledonian football, and take advantage of this quality infrastructure. Then, in terms of administration and the management of football, we need to work collectively and in synergy with the different footballing partners. This is very important as it will allow us to rebuild the image of football with sponsors and partners, always with our Caledonian youth at the centre of our projects.
Fedcalfoot : New Caledonian football has suffered for some time from a negative image due to the conflicts between different football leaders, what are your thoughts regarding this difficult environment that the number one sport in New Caledonia finds itself in?
N.G: From the outside, it is true that in the past two or three years football in the country has clearly been impacted on by personal conflicts, which have affected Caledonian football as a whole. The importance football has in New Caledonia brings with it differing points of view on fundamental ideas or operation. But the main role of football is to convey noble values and we need to stay focused on these values that football represents, and concentrating on the educational work which is essential. Our youth needs it.
Fedcalfoot: Does New Caledonia football need to regain some of its crediblity?
N.G: We have to work as a collective, all together, towards a more positive image of Caledonian football. I’m thinking specifically of respecting referees, an important point in light of the recent issues. But as a whole, everyone involved with the round ball must be included in a common project that will advance the number one sport in the country. Concerning the federation, it needs to re-establish its place in the game, that as the central governing body of football, because that is its role. Once we have confirmed the position of FCF in respect to the Provincial Committees especially, we will start to regain credibility with our members and can start constructive dialogue with the various clubs and institutions. That will be the basis before we once again start moving forward.
Fedcalfoot: How has your integration into the federation gone? You must have a few projects already requiring your attention?
N.: Obviously I was prepared to come here, but it’s been a baptism of fire with a number of important projects requiring immediate attention. This is what makes it so motivating, because being well structured should allow Caledonian football to meet the next sporting opportunities head on, like the Pacific Games, followed by the World Cup qualifiers. Without forgetting youth football which is a priority. There’s work to do. Bringing some stability to FCF will help bring greater consistency to our undertakings to our work as a whole, at Grassroots level as well as at senior level for both men and women. In any case, Caledonian football has lot of passionate people involved and it is grateful to be able to work for everyone who loves the round ball.
Fedcalfoot: Is that what helped you decide to start this new adventure?
N.G: Of course, there a lot of passionate people in the country and people who give a lot of themselves for the love of the game. Associated with that, as I said, is the strong values football conveys, especially to the youth of our country. It is a great challenge.
Story courtesy fedcalfoot.com. For more about New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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