PORT VILA: The year 2004 marks 70 years of football, or soccer, been played in Vanuatu and official celebrations to celebrate this milestone is being planned by the Vanuatu Football Federation.
Vanuatu Football was officially founded through the Port Vila Football League which was the only organized football body then, in 1934. On 2 July 1988, the Vanuatu Football Federation was officially recognized and accepted as a member of the world football body FIFA.
The President of VFF, Johnny Tinsley Lulu met with VFF management on Monday and advised to call a meeting of the Federal Council to discuss arrangements for a national 70th anniversary celebration on 2 July 2004.
“I want a formal declaration from the council for all leagues and associations throughout Vanuatu to set our date for entry to FIFA which is 2 July, as the official day of celebrations to commemorate the 70th year of existence of football in Vanuatu”, Mr. Lulu suggested.
Mr. Lulu says he would like to see VFF honoring some individuals who have dedicated their time in developing and promoting football as a sport in Vanuatu. He also wants the national team for the upcoming Nations Cup-World Cup qualifying campaign to be the official squad representing the seventy-year commemoration of Vanuatu Football.
“If possible, I want some commemoration messages embroidered on the national senior team uniform, and I want them to wear the uniform in their World Cup qualification matches in Samoa in May”.
Mr. Lulu is one of those pioneers of Vanuatu Football still active in the running and development of the sport in Vanuatu. He is currently serving his third four-year term as President of VFF. He was first elected into the Presidency in 1995. He was re-elected in the 2002/2003 VFF Congress in Luganville last December.