Photo Credit: OFC Media
Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) has become just the second Member Association (MA) to receive the OFC Mentoring Programme.
Led by OFC Educators John Ackerley, Andy Hedge, Mike De Bono, Margaret Aka and OFC High Performance and Education team member, Tracy Cunnington, the course equipped 17 Fiji FA employees with the skills necessary to excel as mentors within their roles.
| Candidates | |||||
| Amina Bi | Nazra Hussein | Sushil Singh | Dhirend Chand | Annette Nainima | Annabel Rao |
| Louisa Simmons | Aliza Hussein | Sunil Kumar | Gordan Johan Leewai | Arthur Simmons | Tagi Vonolagi |
| Roneel Ram | Marika Rodu | Jerry Sam | Sanaila Waganicakau | Yogendra Dutt | |
Participants explored five different topic areas each day of the course, including:
- Yourself as a mentor
- Your mentoring philosophy
- What is mentoring
- Mentoring models and approaches
- Mentoring skills and techniques
“The course is delivered in an interactive way that models a mentoring approach,” explained John Ackerley, OFC lead educator. “The programme combines key methodology with practical application, all while respecting and adapting to Fijian cultural differences.”
An approach that helped to create a relaxed environment for participants such as Fijian FA’s Head of Women’s Development Louisa Simmons – who was of the youngest on the course – feel less anxious around her peers that had a wealth of mentoring experience.
“I didn’t feel as inferior to everyone else in the room from the atmosphere created by the instructors and my other fellow mentors during the entire week as we were all learning together and felt free to share our experiences and knowledge openly,” expressed Simmons.
This adaptability was demonstrated through sensitive questioning, which explored the contrast between hierarchical ‘telling’ culture and a question based approach rooted in self-actualisation.
A collective ‘fish bowl’ technique was employed to tackle participants challenges with peoples prejudice towards women playing football, helping them to identify positive, actionable solutions.
Educators also honoured Fijian traditions beginning and ending each day with prayer, building respect and trust, allowing for OFC to challenge some of the traditional norms towards mentoring in a respectful way – leaving participants with a positive learning experience.
“The way they set up the room, their engaging activities and the way they delivered the content from the first day was very welcoming. It helped me feel comfortable and less intimidated from the start while also learning a lot about mentoring in a positive environment,” said Fijian FA Head of Women’s Development Louisa Simmons.
The programme is part of a broader OFC strategy to develop a mentoring framework across Oceania. Following a successful course for New Zealand Football in 2023, and now Fiji in 2024, there are plans to expand to further MAs next year and beyond.
“It was very enlightening as it allowed me to understand myself better. The friendly environment created by the instructors and participants allowed us to be comfortable and share our thoughts openly throughout the course, enriching me to become a better mentor,” said Head of Talent Development Sunil Kumar.
Participants will hopefully have a deeper understanding of mentoring and its processes and techniques, to better support their mentees and themselves within their roles at the Fijian Football Association.
The ultimate goal, “to ensure every MA in the Oceania is up-skilled in mentoring”, says Ackerley. “To support the wider football workforce moving forwards”.