A five-day OFC Senior C-License Futsal Coaching course was held at the Fiji FA Headquarters in Vatuwaqa recently with 17 coaches from across the country taking part.
OFC Futsal Development Officer Paul Toohey said the course is the first step in the OFC coaching journey for futsal coaches in the region.
“The participants who came and completed the course will receive certificates and will then be very much on the pathway to the next step, which is The Futsal B Licence,” Toohey explained.
“What we expect from each of the coaches who took part is for them to go back and work in their districts in developing futsal.”
Toohey said it was compulsory for a participant to coach a team where they would be assessed and monitored.
“They performed very well during the course and they need to continue and keep working for their districts and stay in the database, only then will they be awarded their certification,” he explained.
Toohey said many of the players had come through playing futsal and were now able to translate their experience as a player to that of a coach.
“Futsal is where players create their skills playing small-sided gamed and this is very beneficial for football,” he explained
“The vision Fiji FA is showing now to incorporate futsal into football activities is a really good one, and football in Fiji in general will reap the benefits.
“I think the demand in futsal coaching is really high in Fiji as there is an increase in activity, an increase in competitions.”