PORT VILA – Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) celebrated the election of a new president at the weekend after Lambert Maltock was elected to replace outgoing incumbent Jacques
Tronquet. Maltock’s executive committee is comprised of Vice-Presidents Saby Natonga and Leon Katty Warsal with Jacques Tronquet named as Honorary President.

Roy Smith of the Torba FA, Marie Virelala, Willie Leo of the Penama FA, Albert Apia of the Malampa FA and Iau Tuan from the Tafea FC club were all confirmed in the new look set-up
that follows quickly on the heels of the successful OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualifier match hosted at the Port Vila Municipal Stadium.

Vanuatu’s narrow 2-1 defeat to New Zealand in front of 8,000 fans was heralded as a new dawn in the island nation’s football history despite the result with the mouthwatering
prospect of future international matches against Fiji and New Caledonia on the horizon.

Tafea FC – Vanuatu’s perennial national club champions – will view their two OFC O-League matches scheduled for early 2008 against KOSSA FC and Ba with a renewed sense of
anticipation following the national team’s encounter with New Zealand that saw fans queue up three hours prior to kick-off.

Maltock’s election is the latest in a series of positive football stories to emerge from Vanuatu with the national U-12 team finishing 19th out of 40 teams in the 2007 Danone Nations
Cup at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France, earlier this year.

Vanuatu’s national club competition is also heading toward an exciting climax with 13-in-a-row champions Tafea FC facing a stern challenge from traditional bridesmaids Tupuji FC.
Tupuji FC feature a number of players from the Vanuatu national team including stand-out goalkeeper Chikau Mansale, nephew of national team team-mate and rival for the number one goalkeeper jersey
David Chilia.

Port Vila-based observer Yvon Avry said the VFF Congress was conducted in a friendly atmosphere with the outcome of the electoral procedure considered a great success.

“There is a great sense of optimism and unity (following Lambert Maltock’s election) and hope that there is a bright future ahead for the game,” Avry said.

Vanuatu have yet to face Fiji and New Caledonia in the OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualifiers whilst Tafea FC play KOSSA FC of the Solomon Islands and recently
deposed Fiji club champions Ba early next year. 

The full VFF Executive Committe members are:

President: Lambert Maltock

Vice-Presidents : Saby Natonga (Port Vila FA) and Léon Katty Warsal (Sanma FA)

President of Honor : Jacques Tronquet Albert Manaroto

Treasurer (Shefa FA) Roy Smith (Torba FA)

Jean Marie Virelala (Luganville FA, to be confirmed, Jacky Ulas absent)

Willie Leo (Penama FA)

Albert Apia (Malampa FA)

Iau Tuan (Tafea FA)