The event was held at PVL Stadium on Saturday and was run by coaches from Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) and local primary school teachers, who gave up their time to teach over 200 players from the Pango Green Bird club some of the elements of the Just Play programme, including the importance of education and healthy living, as well as basic instructions on football.
Kaison Maki, the Just Play development officer for VFF, was delighted with how the day unfolded and says the progression of the programme continues to run smoothly.
“It has been such a great experience for me to see this project running so well in Port Vila,” he says. “I must thank the volunteers and teachers for coming out today to help coach the kids.”
The children were all aged between five and 12 years old and were divided into several age-groups to work on various football drills with each of the coaches.
At the end of the festival, VFF technical director and Just Play coordinator Charles Vatu took time to speak with the children about their experiences playing football and explained the importance of gaining a good education.
Just Play is a unique 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, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and South Auckland in New Zealand.
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 Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu