The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between OFC and the Tuvalu Football Association (TFA). OFC President/FIFA Vice-President Reynald Temarii and the TFA President Tapugao Falefou signed the three year agreement last week.
The Memorandum will see OFC supply financial and technical assistance to the TFA to develop football activity in Tuvalu.
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas said the Memorandum reflected the hard work and commitment of the TFA in consolidating football as the number one sport in the country.
“Tuvalu has shown it is fully committed to developing football activities in its country and to becoming a full member of OFC and FIFA. OFC is delighted to help the TFA realise its dream.
Nearly $100,000.00 NZD will be provided over the next three years to assist with football activities and infrastructure in Tuvalu.
Football will play a key role in the Tuvalu primary school system in the future with a Tuvalu under 11 team set to participate in the 2009 OFC Youth Festival with airfares, meals and accommodation provided for by OFC,” Nicholas said.
OFC Technical Director Jim Selby will travel to Tuvalu to prepare a technical development programme that will include a referee and a coach education course.
Tuvalu will also be included in the UEFA/OFC Grassroots Development programme which will equip schools with resources, training and equipment for football activities in the country.
Tuvalu President Tapugao Falefou was delighted with the Memorandum:
“The technical and financial support that OFC will provide to the Tuvalu FA for the next three years is extraordinary. It marks a new chapter in the history of football in Tuvalu.
We are delighted and grateful for this great support from OFC as it will develop the game in our tiny island nation.
Tuvaluan children will not only start to get proper football gear and equipment, but they will also receive proper training. More so, our children will learn that football is a sport with a global reach,” Falefou said.
With a population of 12,000 and measuring 26 square kilometres, the Oceania nation of Tuvalu has aspirations of joining the global football family.
“Our long term vision is to become a full member of FIFA and OFC to participate in more regional and international football tournaments. We are optimistic that this dream will become a reality,” Falefou said.
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
EXTRA INFORMATION
Tuvalu became an Associate Member of OFC on 28 May, 2007.
Tuvalu were surprise performers at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 when they drew 1-1 with Tahiti – a match that included a last minute missed penalty by Tuvalu striker Petio Semaia.
They nearly repeated the upset with a brave performance against 2008 OFC Nations Cup runners-up and XIII South Pacific Games gold medal winners New Caledonia in a 0-1 defeat.
In 2008, Tuvalu followed up with participation at the OFC Futsal Championship in Suva, Fiji, last year and turned in one or two encouraging performances and sent its U-12 team to the OFC Youth Festival in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Tuvalu results 2007
vs. Fiji (N) lost 0-16
vs. Tahiti (N) drew 1-1
vs. New Caledonia (N) lost 0-1
vs. Cook Islands (N) lost 1-4