The two clubs signed a three-year partnership in December 2012 which provided the opportunity for the Tahitian club to send coaches to France on learning excursions.
Technical director and senior team coach Laurent Heinis and coaching instructor and U-17 coach Tetiamana Marmouyet will spend 12 days, from August 12-25, integrating themselves into the folds of the club.
“We are going to St Etienne to learn more about how they work with players of different ages, between 12-19 years old. We are interested in the content of their annual programme and its different objectives. Work cycles, the content of sessions and discussions with the coaches about the different age groups will be our daily schedule while we are there,” Heinis says.
“It will also be interesting to see the level of the players in the centre compared with our local players.”
Heinis says the ultimate goal, whether with the youth team or with the reserve side, is to learn anything that can be adopted back in Tahiti to improve football.
Upon the duo’s return they plan to host workshops with the club’s various coaches and it is likely in the future others will benefit from the partnership by travelling to Europe for the same learning opportunities.
Further benefits for Tefana will be seen at youth level as early as June 2014 when the club intends to send their U-11 and U-13 sides to take part in a tournament with St Etienne’s other partner clubs.
Heinis says Tefana’s greater vision is to continue to cultivate their relationship with St Etienne, with a focus on how the French side develops its youth players in its academy. They also envisage one day sending players for trials.
“We will work with our players in our club to help them progress before we look at sending them on. Our youth need to have a solid educational background and the skills of a great footballer but also a strong mind in order to succeed.”
Tefana has a strong philosophy in youth football development with a number of its academy graduates going on to represent Tahiti in international competition.
St Etienne has a long history in the French championship and was especially influential from the 60s up until the early 80s. Notable former players include UEFA president Michel Platini, 1998 World Cup winner Laurent Blanc and former manager of Les Bleus Aimé Jacquet.
The club has won ten French championship titles, six French Cups and has twice reached the UEFA Club Champions Cup (the former UEFA Champions League) finals.
Tefana recently signed a partnership with Air Tahiti Nui to support the club in its development.
For more on Tahiti football go to www.ftf.pf

Share