The launch of a new beach soccer programme in the Ha’apai Islands, Tonga is being viewed as an ideal gateway into football for people of all ages.
The programme has been two years in the making, having had progress stalled by the devastating effects of Cyclone Ian, which hit the area in January 2014.
But during a visit from OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey last week, the Tonga Football Association revealed the programme structure for the next year, which will include competitions for U-14 boys and girls as well as senior men and women.
“The TFA has done a very good job with the implementation of this programme, and Ha’apai is an ideal place to become the home of beach soccer in Tonga,” Toohey says.
“This is all about participation and getting people involved in football through beach soccer, and it was evident from the games we had last week that the local people don’t take long to adapt to the game.”
As part of the trip to the Ha’apai Islands Toohey ran a three-day OFC Beach Soccer Development Course in the village of Pangai, which focussed on helping participants to create and manage a programme of beach soccer activities at the grassroots level.
The course, which was attended by 18 people including TFA technical director Kilifi Uele and Ha’apai beach soccer development officer Peni Fatafehi, also provided an introduction to coaching beach soccer.
The new programme has the backing of local community leaders, with the Governor of Ha’apai, Moale Finau, attending the festival of games on the final day to confirm his support.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to the OFC and TFA for bringing beach soccer to Ha’apai, and I will be doing everything I can to help develop the game,” Finau says.
‘’I believe the sport creates an opportunity for our young people to get involved in physical activity, and that it will be a real positive for us.”
For more on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to

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