Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) has today announced a squad of 36 players selected to participate in the new elite academy to be launched in Teouma this year.
The academy, which is a pilot programme for “FIFA Goal Football”, consists of U-17 players who will be eligible to play in the OFC U-17 Championship 2009 in April.
The final selection was made after 64 players from around the country took part in a two-week trial in December.
The new elite academy is being managed by VFF technical advisor Yvon Avry and will involve daily trainings for the players under four specially selected coaches. These coaches will be Moise Poida, Richard Iwai, Etienne Mermer and goalkeeper coach David Chilia – all of whom have played at an international level. Patrick Jacquemet who is a FIFA instructor, ex-National Coach of the Selection of Tahiti, former international player for Tahiti and professional goalkeeper in France, travelled to Vanuatu last November to prepare the coaches and will be returning during the year to run courses.
Vanuatu is one of only six countries selected for this pilot programme. Not only will the academy help lift the level of football but it will also encourage education. Those players who are still at school will continue their studies in Port Vila while the rest will take part in a specifically tailored programme which includes activities such as maintenance, gardening, assisting in schools (with support from the Ministry of Education), and professional development in local companies.
The idea of the “FIFA Goal Football” programme in Vanuatu is to improve skill levels and to eventually increase the number of players who gain professional contracts overseas. The plan is to implement the U-17 academy this year and to then make a selection for the U-20 age group in 2010.
It may be too early to measure the impact of the academy at the U-17 OFC tournament in April, but the VFF believe in the long run the influence on Vanuatu football will be invaluable.
Of the 36 players for this year’s academy there are 16 from the islands: 2 from Torba (1 Mota Lava and 1 Vanua Lava), 3 from Sanma (Luganville), 4 from Penama (1 Maewo, 1 Ambae, 2 Pentecost), 3 from Malampa (Malekula), 1 from Epi Islands and 3 from Tafea (Tanna). The remaining 20 involved in the programme are from Port Vila but many of them also have origins in the islands.
FINAL SQUAD:
Goalkeeper
Steven Simon (Port Vila), Mac Kenzie Jeffry (Port Vila), Iaruel Seilony (Port Vila)
Defenders
Kapere Clovis (Port Vila), Vava Junior (Port Vila), Namuli Fabien (Port Vila), Kaltak Bryan (Erakor), Makito Malakai (Port Vila), Willy Jimmy (Epi Islands), Tovi Jayson (Pentecost), Belbong Appolinaire (Malekula), Simion Johnny (Luganville), Kahie Lava (Tanna), Hinge Lucien (Port Vila)
Midfield
Steven Eddison (Ambae), Lugao Bendersan (Pentecost), Steven Silas (Port Vila), Meltecoin Octave (Port Vila ), Chabod Pascal (Port Vila), Tasso Jackson (Port Vila), Joseph Simo (Port Vila), August Ivong (Port Vila), Maltongtong Moken (Malekula), Fred Dominique (Malekula), Bulewak Philippe (Luganville), Sese Jean Noel (Luganville), Wokeke Alfred (Mota Lava), Shame Iata (Tanna), Johnsen Noel (Tanna), Kaltak Jean (Erakor),
Forwards
Sumaki Bryan (Port Vila), Visi Romarick (Port Vila), James Joseph (Port Vila), Niko Jack (Port Vila), Boe Lensie (Maewo), George Zergino (Vanua Lava)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Priscilla Duncan
Oceania Football Confederation
Media and Communications
T: +649-526-5651
F: +649-525-8164
M: +64 (0)21 884 018
Gordon Glen Watson
Oceania Football Confederation
Media and Communications
T: +649-526-5654
F: +649-525-8164
M: +64 (0)21 994 520