The country’s budding beach soccer referees were put through their paces by Oceania’s FIFA Referee Development Officer Massimo Raveino with the support of Philippe Jiane, a member of the FCF refereeing committee, and Kamali Fitialeata, the FCF grassroots development manager. The latter is also a beach soccer referee and officiated matches at the 2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship in Tahiti in February.
The course took place from November 28 to December 2 and the theory aspect was held at the Arène du Sud venue in Païta. When it came time for Raveino and co to show the participants how to put what they had learned into practice, the group then shifted to the nearby academy, work on which was begun in 2008 and is now nearing the final stage of completion.
The participants who took part in the FIFA Level 1 course are usually match officials for the 11-a-side version of the game and the five-day course gave them the chance to experience a new football discipline.
Beach soccer has grown in popularity in recent years and Fitialeata feels it will continue to do so.
“The growth of beach soccer will increase over the coming years,” he says.
“The development of the discipline in New Caledonia will come through training and promotion. These FIFA courses for referees and coaches are a great opportunity to assist us in this mission.”
FCF President Edmond Bowen agrees but is keen to stress that regular football remains the main focus.
“We cannot forget that 11-a-side football is the priority and only by performing well in this form of the game will we be able to develop other disciplines such as beach soccer,” President Bowen says.
Work on the Païta academy was officially inaugurated by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and OFC ambassador Christian Karembeu three years ago and it is part of the country’s FIFA Goal Project, a programme that allows each member association of FIFA to receive funding for football development projects that respond to the special needs of their national associations.
The academy is expected to be opened in early 2012 and will feature a futsal court, beach soccer pitch, artificial turf and administration facilities.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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