APFA, working in close partnership with the VFF and OFC, recently sent director of football Goivani Fernandes to the Port Vila-based Teouma Academy to check on proceedings following the completion of the first eight week phase.
“We showed them a “best of” video of Pele during my visit and they were told to evaluate his technique, tactics, mental and physical qualities and then compare themselves to him. The idea is that it gives us an idea of how they see themselves as players.
“One of the boys, who is quite talented, when comparing himself to Pele says he shoots as well as him but his weakness is speed which he rated as being a three or four – which is not the case.
“But, what that shows us is that maybe he needs a bit more TLC from the coaches or the mentor to better understand his abilities,” Fernandes says.
Fernandes says one thing he was particularly proud to see developing in the players during this visit was their ability to recognise that someone like Pele is an example to them.
“They’re picking up on the traits of an elite football player, and in time we want them to be saying ‘I want to be there, I want to be a role-model’,” he says.
“I absolutely believe that Teouma Academy is successful. The more we are aware of what it takes to improve football in that country, the more likely they are to achieve a higher development pathway.
“And having the kids, coaches and staff migrating in the same direction is the first step towards achieving that.”
Fernandes says his previous visits were about establishing guidelines and procedures for the staff to run on the ground themselves – allowing him to now focus this, and future visits, on following up and providing feedback.
“Now that we are through the first eight week phase we can start to ask the important questions – how did it work? What worked and what didn’t work? How can we improve? And working towards how we can apply those changes in the next phase,” Fernandes says.
“The great thing about the system that we have introduced is that we can follow everything that is happening daily, whether it’s me here in Christchurch or with the OFC technical department in Auckland. We all have access to the same information.”
Fernandes is referring to a system which which allows open access to all those involved in Teouma Academy through an online monitoring system which makes the information available in real time whether in Vanuatu or Christchurch. This provides an insight into what parts of the programme have or have not been carried out, and to what extent, on any given day.
“We can look at the education component and say there is study hall followed by maths and science at 8.30 and religious education at 9,” he says.
“The next step is to follow up – were you able to do it? Did it go as planned? The education component is very important and it needs to be as successful as the football.”
Taking transparency to another level this also allows staff to access a comprehensive breakdown of information on each individual player.
Every player must give themselves a daily rating in a number of areas and their responses are evaluated by staff both in Vanuatu and New Zealand.
“For example, we had a player recently who rated his appetite on Thursday and Saturday as a one, muscle soreness a two and performance a two. Now that is really low,” Fernandes says.
“We contact the Academy manager or the coach because somebody has to follow up with this kid. Above all, we have to make sure that kid is okay and we are doing the best for them.”
Fernandes is confident that the benefits of the academy programme are already starting to surface in the players as the staff attempt to guide them through the rigours of elite football from an early age.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu