The “Path to Selection”, as the new programme has been christened, will debut in January 2013 according to Etaeta.
He says “Path to Selection” will determine the squad which goes to Brazil, with no guarantees the OFC Nations Cup-winning side will automatically be retained.
“Those players who won’t follow the programme set up by team management will not be included in the squad which goes to Brazil,” Etaeta says.
“Some people say it won’t be possible to get the results we need in four months, but I can assure you we will not be taking any ‘tourists’ with us to Brazil.”
Tahiti will be the only amateur side taking part in the tournament, a sentiment that has not been lost on the Toa Aito’s coach.
“There are 99 per cent amateurs and one per cent professional football players in the world and our Toa Aito have earned the opportunity to represent amateur football against the greatest nations in the world,” Etaeta says.
“Imagine what our Tahitian players are going to experience in June 2013. Tahitian players and clubs need to understand that the national team will play the Confederations Cup against teams like the African champions, South American champions Uruguay and the world champions Spain.
“Even if we are amateur players, we have to be prepared to perform as professionals.”
Tahiti’s qualification for the tournament was a first for a Pacific Island nation and came on the back of years of dominance by Australia and then New Zealand in the Oceania region.
The country is also playing host to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2013 putting the French territory under the footballing world spotlight, which Etaeta says this makes the game’s future there more important than ever before.
“My main tasks with the Fédération Tahitienne de Football are technical development, youth development, coach development and elite football performance,” he says.
“Improving our future will come only from a common project that has to involve the clubs and a game philosophy with performance at the base. Another aspect is to have more players in professional clubs which would make our national side more competitive.
“I think in order to do this we need to create a youth training programme that is very specific both in terms of the quality and the sporting requirements and that will certainly be possible with the creation of a youth academy.
“If we don’t change our approach we will remain playing football for leisure, without the opportunity to take part in high level competitions.”
For more on Tahiti football go to www.ftf.pf

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