Nineteen teachers from 11 primary schools in the National Capital District and five volunteers attended the workshop and the aim was to provide an overview of the Just Play programme, as well as equipping the teachers with basic football skills and strategies on how to use football as a tool to address social issues.
The workshop was facilitated by Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) project manager Taku Niebo and social responsibility officer Guim Kagl.
The second phase of the Just Play programme will be rolled out to 13 schools in the National Capital District before venturing into other centres.
Just Play is designed for children aged six to 12 and is based around structured activity programmes as well as the distribution of equipment packs containing balls, cones, bibs, activity manuals and other resources that enable children to play football.
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was launched in Tonga and has since been introduced in Vanuatu, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and South Auckland in New Zealand.
OFC is also currently working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities.
OFC is working closely with UEFA, the Government of Australia – through its agencies the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – and Football Federation Australia (FFA) to roll out the programme across the Pacific. The Australian Government has shown its support to the project by contributing AU$4million.
In South Auckland, Just Play is supported by OFC’s partnership with the Sir John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation, Counties Manukau Sport and Auckland Football Federation.
For more on Papua New Guinea football go to www.pngfootball.com.pg

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