Football’s power to unite cultures and create opportunity was on full display during the Australian Under 17 national team’s recent visit to Fiji, where the Joeys visited local children participating in the Just Play programme.
Delivered by the Fiji Football Association and designed by the Oceania Football Confederation, Just Play places social development at the heart of the game. Health, inclusion, gender equality and safeguarding are integrated into fun, active football sessions, ensuring that participation, not just performance, is the priority.
“Mainly for the Just Play programme we focus on the social messages and only use football as a tool to deliver those messages,” Fiji FA Just Play Manager Filomena Liku explained.
Funded through the Australian Government’s sport for development programme, Team Up, Just Play is delivered in Fiji and five other Oceania Football Confederation Member Associations. The Joeys’ visit further strengthened the joint commitment between OFC and DFAT to drive positive, lasting impact across the region through football.
During their trip the Joey’s visited local communities, played games, and shared moments with local children, allowing the team to see first hand the impact the game can have.
“Football brings people together,” Joeys defender Will Kengi said. “It creates friendships and relationships that can help in the future. Experiences like this are really good for the team to come together.”
The Joeys’ involvement reinforced the programme’s core value of inclusion.
“Just Play is participation for all,” Fiji Football Association, Western Just Play Coordinator, Lia Tuinasakea said. “We leave no one behind. It’s not about the best players, it’s about giving every child an opportunity to love football and dream.”
She said the children’s reaction to the Joeys’ presence was unforgettable.
“You could see the smiles on their faces. They were excited because they look up to them. They’ve seen these teams on TV, but to see them in real life, it really motivates them.”
“The kids started chanting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi’,” Tuinasakea laughed. “I thought they’d be cheering for Fiji, but now they’ve got a lot of new Australian supporters for life.”
Fiji FA Just Play Manager Filomena Liku described the visit as “really heartfelt”, particularly given the backgrounds of many of the children involved.
“Seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces, knowing the environment they come from, was very touching,” Liku said. “The Joeys didn’t expect this kind of engagement, but you could see how much they loved it.”
“Having national players involved is a powerful motivator for Just Play participants, particularly children. Their presence inspires young players to stay engaged in football and believe that they too can one day represent their country,” says Lavenia Yalovi, OFC’s Just Play Manager.
Since 2009, Just Play has reached nearly 500,000 children across the Pacific, with many past participants progressing into national and international football pathways. OFC looks forward to continuing to expand football opportunities across the region through its recent Memorandum of Understanding with Football Australia.
Supported by Team Up (Australia’s sport for development partnership in the Pacific), Just play is changing lives in the Pacific, using sport to promote gender quality, inclusivity, health, and safeguarding.
Photo Credit: Fiji FA Media