History is being made at the Soccer Academy in ‘Atele on Tuesday 23 June as the first Tongan Football Association (TFA) youth coaching clinic gets underway.
It is the first time in Tongan football history that an Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) coaching course has featured two local instructors as course facilitators and follows on from the concept’s debut in American Samoa two weeks ago.
The workshop focus is to develop Tongan youth coaches’ knowledge and skills for instructing at the community level. Local instructors Kilifi Uele and Lui Muavesi were dynamic in their first session as they tackled the challenge of sharing a wealth of knowledge and skills with more than 10 youth coaches from around Tongatapu in attendance.
The pair are very excited to be conducting such a course in Tonga.
“This is beneficial for clubs in the community, especially the junior and youth levels for the betterment of football development,” Kilifi said.
“We are taking it to another level and it is challenging for us but it’s encouraging as we need to do whatever we can to improve and grow football in Tonga," Lui added.
Also in the kingdom, as support, is OFC Technical Director Jim Selby who in his opening remarks said that this milestone is only the beginning of more football development his department has planned for Tonga.
“Tonga is a very important country for OFC, and the ongoing cooperation and forward planning of 
technical activities for community through to the international level will provide structured and sustainable football pathways for the local communities,” Selby said.
He added there are existing regulations for senior football but nothing for kids and youths, therefore OFC has to take the initiative to have a children’s development program at the community level.
This youth coaching course has both theory and practical components. Prior to the workshop, all participants have undertaken TFA’s junior coaching workshop. The accreditation they will receive after this four day clinic is recognized throughout the Pacific region.
Story courtesy of TFA Media