“Calling leagues professional is a matter of interpretation. At this seminar we’re focused on long term activities that you can implement and incorporate into Oceania National Leagues like Club Licensing.
“It takes time to put together long term activities that strengthen a National League,” he said.
An earlier presentation by Singapore FA’s Winston Lee highlighted what quick-win activities can be implemented short-term, with long-term benefits to a National League competition.
The Singapore FA engaged in a raft of marketing strategies that engaged their clubs’ players in public relations and media activities, and harnessed the ingenuity and motivation of local university students to drive their platforms.
“You can see the amount of work Winston Lee and the Singapore FA put into their strategy over ten years, they’re seeing the results of that now,” Isaac said.
He also reminded delegates there was an important distinction for Oceania Member Associations to make before embarking on strengthening their domestic flagship competitions.
“I urge the administrators at Member Associations to not feel overwhelmed by the task in front of them. It’s important to remember that it’s not their personal responsibility to improve playing performance or coaching or technical expertise, or the league.
“As custodians of the game in their Member Associations, their responsibility is to create the enviornment that will lead to better players, better coaches and attract sponsors and fans to the game,” he said.
Isaac described the external benefits inherent in a strong domestic competition in employment, education, health and well-being.
With the OFC winning the Peace and Sport Award for its Just Play programme in Monaco recently Isaac’s comment was a timely observation.
Papua New Guinea Football Association General Secretary Dimirit Mileng said the social benefits to a strong development programme were key to strengthening National Leagues.
“The Just Play programme has had a big effect in Papua New Guinea where children can only play football if they go to school.
“It has a positive social effect in education.” Dmirit Mileng.
The Solomon Islands’ Joseph Boso said the flow-on from a well-staged domestic match meant employment and development opportunities for people engaged in stadium security.
Isaac said media and marketing was full of possibility in terms of quick-wins.
“These are simple to implement and you see results from them immediately. Radio, TV and social media work on the basis that the more content you have, the more you can deliver to the public.
“The more they see, the more they read, it comes to the forefront of the public’s thinking,” he said.
With the Fiji FA running video highlights of matches and some Oceanian clubs also doing the same in their own domestic competitions he says planning is essential.
“A fixed match-schedule for the entire season with fixed kick-off times is critical for all stakeholders of the game, being the clubs, players, coaches, fans and other stakeholders.”