The new project will complement the already exisiting youth academy in the Teouma region of the country’s most populous island, Efate, as the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) looks to expand its pool of players from which to select national teams.
The details were ironed out in a meeting this month at the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport, during which the Vanuatu National Sports Council agreed to hand over control of Chapuis Stadium to VFF.
Present at the discussions were the council’s chairman, Erick Pakoa, and CEO, Collin Natonga, while Minister for Youth Development and Sport Morkin Steven was also in attendance.
VFF was represented by President Lambert Maltock and CEO Fabien Hoeppe with FIFA development officer for Oceania Glenn Turner also being on hand.
The federation has been working towards such a deal for a long period of time and President Maltock is delighted that the project can now move forward.
“This is part of the decentralisation policy that VFF has in place to help strengthen its elite programme, as well as improving the standard of the provincial leagues and competitions,” he said.
The sports council is just as pleased with the arrangement and CEO Natonga believes it has arrived at a timely moment.
“This historic signing is a step forward for the sports infrastructure of Vanuatu as the country builds up to host the 2017 Pacific Mini Games,” he said.
The academy sub-centre will be the next phase of Vanuatu’s FIFA Goal Programme, an initiative that enables member associations to implement projects designed to develop football in their countries.
The VFF academy at Teouma was also made possible by funding from the Goal Programme and has already started to bear fruit since its opening in 2009.
Many players have come through the academy to star for their country at international level including the likes of cousins Brian and Jean Kaltack, who are now both key players in the Vanuatu senior squad.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

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