About Vanuatu Football Federation

Vanuatu has one of the most advanced technical programmes in the OFC which has led to a string of impressive results over the past two years, particularly at youth level OFC tournaments.

The arrival of former Uruguayan Juan Carlos Buzzetti has been a big factor in the efforts of the Vanuatu Football Federation to tap into the potential which is in abundance.
Since 2002, Vanuatu has beaten New Zealand at the U-16 level and drew with them at U-17 level.

Vanuatu were beaten only narrowly by Australia and New Zealand at respective U-20 and U-23 (Olympic) qualifying tournaments. At senior level, Vanuatu were placed fourth at the OFC Nations Cup, winning bronze at the South Pacific Games.

In the process, Buzzetti has unearthed talents such as 17 year-old Jean Maleb who was the top scorer with seven goals at the recent Olympic men's qualifiers. Maleb got a trial with Southampton in England after being invited to play for the Otago team from New Zealand at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland last year. Opportunities have also opened for other national representatives. Vanuatu international Seimata Chilia spent a season with the Fawkner Blues during the 2003 Victoria State premier league in Australia. In 2004, national reps Etienne Mermer and Richard Iwai got contracts to play in Queensland.

For its efforts in making the final of the OFC U-16 Pacific Cup in 2002, the Vanuatu U-17 development squad was funded to go on a tour of Malaysia where they performed with credit in preparation for the 2003 OFC U-17 Qualifiers.

With FIFA goal project assistance approved and set to commence in 2004, the speed of development will accelerate even further. The lack of quality facilities is hampering development programmes but this has not stopped game from flourishing. The Vanuakids programme has proven popular with schools and has helped identify talent on the outer islands.

Administration planning workshops and coaching/refereeing seminars have also been intensive between 2000-2002.
The VFF does not run a national league as such but on occasions runs invitational tournaments involving clubs from the various affiliate associations. The Port Vila Football League is considered the premier competition in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu is also renowned for its futsal development and has a well established sub association running the national futsal league in Port Vila. Vanuatu has a good indoor facility at Korman Stadium which was the venue for the 1999 OFC Futsal Championship which Vanuatu hosted.
A highlight for the VFF came in 2002 when their leading assistant refere Elisi Doriri was appointed to officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

National League champs
2000: Tafea FC
2001: Tafea FC
2002: Tafea FC
2003: Tafea FC
2004: ???