The programme was launched in Tonga in 2009 but has focused so far on communities and football clubs with only limited opportunities to visit schools.
But that is set to change now that the Ministry of Education has accepted new strategies for young children to be more involved in physical education and sport lessons – including the introduction of a compulsory one-hour movement and fitness class – and allowing various sports organisations to visit primary schools.
Tonga Football Association social responsibility officer Pau Likiliki believes the government’s latest stance will be of great benefit to the development of football and Just Play in Tonga.
“The new arrangement will pave ways for us to broaden our capability of teaching Just Play. It will fall hand in hand with the whole idea of the movement and fitness class and we are happy with the progress,” he says.
“It’s a blessing because we usually approach the schools individually to see if they will accept Just Play as part of their school programmes. Sometimes we have to hold off but now the fitness class is compulsory and that will be a huge advantage.”
The new movement and fitness period will take place for an hour from 2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and is set to run from April 18 to August 24.
A total of 49 schools around the island of Tongatapu will implement Just Play during that time, during which the children will practice basic skills of football while learning of the importance of healthy living and values such as respect and responsibility.
“We have been dreaming of such an opportunity and now we have it so it is our responsibility to be prepared,” Likiliki says. “We will start this programme as a follow up to what we have been doing so far and the children from active Just Play villages will benefit more.”
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play is designed for children aged six to 12 and promotes physical activity while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.
It was first launched in Tonga and has since been introduced in Vanuatu, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Auckland, New Zealand.
OFC will continue to work 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.
The confederation has also been working in New Zealand with Special Olympics (NZ) on a Just Play programme for people with mental disabilities and has launched the new initiative in Samoa and Fiji.
For more news and information on Tonga football go to www.tongafootball.to

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