OFC News

Vanuatu government for football stadium of international standard

Story courtesy Moses Stevens

The Vanuatu government has decided to upgrade one of the country's historical football grounds to international standard, and has given the green light for the Ministry of Youth Development and Training to collaborate with the Vanuatu Football Federation in putting together a project proposal for potential sponsorship or partnership.

The decision was made at the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) Meeting in Port Vila on 18 May, and was announced to the media by the government spokesman Patrick Crowby Manarewo today.

The government has chosen the Kawenu Field which sits along the coastline across the bay to the north of central Port Vila city, for the project. Currently, the ground sits on the same property title that includes the Vanuatu Teachers College.

Several months ago, the American mining company based at the Manganese site at Forari, East Efate island, have been approaching VFF indicating their interest in taking over the Kawenu Field and develop it into international standard.

Manarewo says the Council of Ministers has mandated the Ministry of Youth Development and Training to work, through the National Sports Council, with VFF in establishing a potential partner in the project and to produce a proposal to the government as soon as they can.

"The government would require a detailed project proposal before a contract could be approved for signing with a potential developer", Crowby says.

The decision of the Vanuatu government has come after the President of the Oceania Football Confederation Reynald Temarii visited Port Vila in April. And three weeks ago, the FIFA Development Officer for OFC, Mr. Glenn Turner was in Port Vila in his regular follow up visits on the FIFA Goal Projects in the region, which in Vanuatu a football academy has been inaugurated at Teouma, South Efate.

During those visits, both Mr. Temarii and Mr. Turner had meetings with the Minister of Youth Development and Training Dunstan Hilton. Among other subjects, the need for proper football grounds was one of the topics high on the agenda.

Mr. Temarii even offered to upgrade the Port Vila Stadium so that Vanuatu can be able to host international matches.

Temarii told the media in Vanuatu that following the new system in Oceania to play home and away in future qualification matches for international tournament, Vanuatu must have international grounds to accommodate other teams.

The OFC President also spoke of the idea of reactivating the tri-nations football tournament involving the three French speaking countries in Oceania, namely Tahiti, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Vanuatu used to play in the Coupe de France tournament when the country was under Britain and France. But it ceased to participate when it became an independent republic in 1980.

Meanwhile, the decision by the Vanuatu government could be a step forward for Vanuatu Football, and could be a gesture of further active involvement in the development of the great game in the future.

In October of 2005, FIFA brought its Com-Unity Course

to Vanuatu. Participants from government, NGOs, diplomatic missions, media and the business community were attended the three day course which basically encourages partnership of all stake holders in the development of football.

The government had announced it would be ready to facilitate medical and educational facilities at the football academy built at Touma under the FIFA Goal project. FIFA Development Officer Mr. Turner was in Port Vila earlier in May to compile reports for submission to FIFA for the second phase of the football academy at Teouma.