The official launch of the programme is confirmed for March 25, just after an instructors’ training course is conducted on March 23 and 24.
Taku Niebo, Just Play manager for the Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA), dropped into St Theresa Primary School in Badili last week to promote the programme and many more such visits will take place over the coming weeks.
On a day of glorious sunshine in Badili, the grade seven students from St Theresa were enthusiastically led through some of the key points of the programme by Niebo.
Both male and female students took part and were put through their paces during a number of Just Play drills, such as dribbling and small-sided games.
Helping Niebo get the message across was Robert Sabadi, who is also attached to the programme as a development officer.
In a fitting end to the day, the children all took part in an impromptu kick-about which embodied the very premise of the Just Play programme – that football can be played anywhere, at anytime by anyone.
Just Play is a unique FIFA-approved grassroots programme which promotes physical activity for primary-aged children while encouraging community involvement and healthy living.
Developed by the OFC social responsibility and technical departments, Just Play was launched in Vanuatu last April and has since been introduced in Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands and South Auckland in New Zealand.
Next on the agenda is Fiji while 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