VFF women’s football development officer Joel Rarua says the competition has proven the popularity of the game amongst women in Vanuatu.
“It’s been a big achievement for us to register over 350 girls for this competition and as the development officer in charge of women’s football, for me this shows a great improvement,” Rarua says.
“I know that a lot of girls out there on other islands in Vanuatu are interested in beginning their careers in football. That is my next focus, to take football to their door steps.”
In Port Vila the seven competing teams played their competition at Fresh Wota Fields with Malampa FC claiming the title there following a 2-1 win over Academy FC.
In Luganville six teams took part with Torba FC earning a spot in the grand final with Malampa after beating College de Luganville 3-0 in their final match.
The final will be held at the newly revamped Luganville Soccer City Stadium on 29 August bringing the biggest women’s football competition in Vanuatu to date to a close.
Rarua says there are already plans to expand the league in 2016 to the Malampa and Shefa provinces.
“We believe that this is where we can scout the best players for the U-17, U-20 and senior players for the national team.”
The Vanuatu U-20 women’s national team will take advantage of the upcoming women’s football festivities to prepare for the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship.
Rarua says there are plenty of programmes being implented including Girl’s Football Festivals, Development Centres and Centres of Excellence as well as the Women’s Open League competition, as VFF places increasing importance on the development of women’s football.
The programmes are also considered tools for development as they help reduce the instances of teenage pregnancy, NCDs and promote women as role models in the community.
The women’s football development programme theme is “Gel Vanuatu I Save Plei Tu”, which translates to Vanuatu Girl’s Can Play Too.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

Share