Nestled in Labasa is the Fiji Football Association (FFA) Residential Elite Academy, the first of its kind in the country helping to transform the landscape of Fijian football.
The Academy is more than your typical training ground, it has become a home for aspiring Fijian footballers, shaping their skills on the pitch while instilling discipline, respect, and resilience off it.
The Residential Elite Academy opened on 28 January 2025 to 16 boys aged 14-16, with the purpose of providing top-level training and education, enabling young footballers to excel on and off the pitch.
Just a few years ago, Fiji FA faced a difficult problem in the lack of a talent pool. Sunil Kumar, Head of Talent Development, recalls the struggle of assembling youth teams post-COVID.
“We had to call for trials for the U-15, U-16 national team and then the talent pool was so small that we didn’t have any database,” he said.
From this the FFA talent identification programme was born, along with development camps and the McDonald’s League, which has helped to increase the talent pool in the region.
“McDonald’s League, we started a few years back and we’re running in four grades, there’s U- 9, U-11, U-13 and U-15. It has really contributed to bridging this gap and helped us to make the talent pool bigger,” explained Kumar.
This led to the launch of the McDonald’s Talent Development Inter-District Championships (IDC) last year, that attracted more than 400 young footballers, with a handful selected for the all-stars. From there the best talent earned their place in the Residential Elite Academy, which houses 16 players, providing a clear pathway for young footballers in Fiji.
“This project [Residential Elite Academy] and the McDonald’s league has helped get the best talent, and as the motto of FIFA says, ‘give every talent a chance’, I think through these projects and programmes, we are giving every talent a chance in Fiji,” said Kumar.
The academy isn’t just focused on football but also shaping the young players into well-rounded individuals, combining academic excellence and high-performance training. Ram Artur, North Grassroots Coach, has witnessed the transformation firsthand, noting how the programme has helped the players grow in discipline and character.
“There’s a big impact on these kids here. We see they are growing, not only in football regarding their skills, but also on and off. They are disciplined at home and outside of it with their friends and relatives and families,” said Artur.
“It’s [the academy] a platform for the kids to achieve their goals. I would like to thank FIFA and Fiji Football Association, and also the technical directors, those who are doing the leading role.”
For the players, the journey has been life-changing. Manasa, one of the academy’s students, still beams with pride when recalling Fiji’s U-16 team qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar this November. “We won against Tahiti, I was proud. It was the first time I was going to a World Cup,” he said.
Tokai, another young player, reflected on his journey from U-15 trials to representing Fiji in Tahiti. “Some of us started together from U-15, and now we are reaching new heights. If we make it to the World Cup, it will be a very proud moment.”
To the students, the academy is their bure – their home. It’s where dreams, goals, and values are built and protected. “As our coach told us, we must protect our bure. Just like our ancestors, the warriors. No matter what comes, we have to stand strong,” Tokai added.
With players now filtering into Fiji’s national youth teams and even senior domestic leagues, the McDonalds League and Residential Elite Academy is already proving its impact. The progress is evident and, as Kumar puts it, “we are giving every talent a chance in Fiji, and the results are showing.”
Feature Photo Credit: OFC Media