A team led by FIFA Director of Development and MA Division Thierry Regenass and including Head of Development Programmes Cyril Loisel, Head of Education and Technical Development Jurg Nepfer will lead the process around the world.
They have been joined in New Zealand by MA IT Project Manager Raphael Morgulis, consultant Anter Isaac and Development Manager Oceania Eva Pasquier.
“This is the first in a series of development seminars so if there is any suggestions on how we can improve this so your fellow Member Associations can benefit from it you’re welcome to share those,” Regenass said.
While this is Regenass’ third visit to Auckland, he said this year is more important than ever because of the reform process currently being undertaken at FIFA, which began in the Congress in 2012 and continued this year in Mauritius.
“This is not a case of one-way communication. We also want to request feedback on problems member associations face in Oceania, what we can do to be there and how we can help.”
OFC General Secretary Tai Nicholas thanked Regenass and his colleagues for embracing Oceania and the challenges faced by the confederation and each of its members.
Nicholas outlined some of those challenges faced by the confederation and its members with geography, travel costs and the popularity of other sports ranking high among them.
“Football development is our core business and sometimes in OFC and our MAs we tend to stray away from the core to the detriment of finances,” Nicholas said.
“All these are challenges we must face, so thank you for coming to Auckland and sharing your knowledge of all the programmes that are available for us.
“I’m sure at the conclusion of the seminar we will have a better idea of how we can progress. We know there are already some success stories and we look forward to a fruitful partnership going forward,” Nicholas added.
Pasquier, who as regional development manager has a good knowledge of Oceania, agreed that the seminar will be a chance to conduct a two-way conversation between OFC and FIFA as she outlined the programme over the next three days.
“A series of the reforms are going on and naturally they are impacting on the programmes that we are offering, and on the way that FIFA and the Member Associations should govern their activities now and in the future. It is also impacting on the development of the youth programmes and these will all be raised during these three days.
“We want to show you what is new, how these reforms will impact on you, what kind of programmes we can offer to you, what are the possibilities of benefiting from these activities and also identify what your duties are, and what we request and require in order for you to benefit from these.
Pasquier said the interactivity of the seminar will be upheld with a series of activities and workshops which will allow everyone to express their opinions.
“We would like to learn what is important to you so we can better prepare our programmes to suit your needs because we’re aware that every region is a bit different,” she said. “Although we have the standard activities there is always room to make them tailor-made to your needs.
“The future is bright, but we have to work for it of course.”
The FIFA/OFC Development Seminar continues tomorrow through to Monday encompassing a wide range of topics including FIFA reforms, financial management and development initiatives available to the region.

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