The partnership between Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and UEFA continues to break new ground, as evidenced by the first OFC Executive Programme for General Secretaries workshop of 2025, held earlier this month in Auckland, New Zealand.
Hosted at the OFC Home of Football – Te Kahu o Kiwa – the workshop brought together 10 of OFC’s 11 Member Association (MA) General Secretaries for two days of high-impact learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Coaching: More Than a Skill – A Mindset
Day One of the workshop, led by OFC Chief Operating Officer Frederic Guillemont and executive coach Aly McNicoll, introduced coaching as a powerful leadership mindset. The focus was to empower General Secretaries to foster stronger teams, enhance organisational performance, and adapt leadership approaches to the unique challenges within their associations.
“Our General Secretaries already understand their national contexts incredibly well,” said Guillemont. “This programme equips them with knowledge to elevate their leadership and tailor it to their environment. It’s about trust, communication and guiding people – not just managing them.”
🔗 See Day 1 highlights on LinkedIn
Insights from Global Leaders
Day Two shifted gears to practical insights on club management and the player transfer system. Sessions were delivered by Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney, Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker, and OFC Head of Legal and Compliance Farah Mohammed.
For OFC’s newest General Secretary, Faumuina Margaret Crichton of Football Federation Samoa, the experience was transformative.
“It’s an honour to be part of this,” said Crichton, a former national team player. “I’ve learned that coaching in leadership is about listening, trusting and connecting. It’s not just about telling people what to do, it’s about understanding and coaching them.”
“And connecting with my fellow General Secretaries was incredibly valuable. We’re all in the same boat, navigating similar challenges. Sharing our journeys helps us all grow.”
🔗 Explore Day 2 takeaways on LinkedIn
A Two-Way Street: UEFA + OFC
This workshop is a cornerstone of the three-year UEFA Together and OFC partnership, which continues to redefine collaboration and continues to push football management boundaries.
The impact of the mutual exchange was echoed by Mooney, who previously served as UEFA’s Head of Strategic Development.
“I’ve learned so much here in just a few days that we can bring back to Europe” he said. “OFC’s focus on coaching as a leadership tool is something we want to nurture more and more in Wales, not just for our own staff but for the stakeholders too. Building trust through conversation, guiding instead of instructing, this approach can transform how we grow the game.”
The momentum will continue with the next OFC Executive Programme for General Secretaries workshop, scheduled for October.
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek