Eight Fiji Football Association staff recently travelled to Auckland as part of the OFC Placement Programme, gaining valuable insight into football development from grassroots through to the professional game.

During the five day study visit, the delegation visited East Coast Bays AFC, Birkenhead United and Auckland FC, while also attending the Northern League fixture between Western Springs AFC and Birkenhead United. The programme provided opportunities to observe coaching sessions across youth and senior levels, meet with club staff and explore how different organisations develop players, engage their communities and build sustainable football environments.

“It has been eye opening to see how football is organised here,” said Fiji Football Association Vice President and Acting Bula FC Chief Executive Officer Naziah Ali.

“We have a lot to learn, both from a federation and club perspective. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is the focus on community engagement and building strong relationships with members. That’s something we can definitely strengthen back home.”

The visit to Auckland FC was particularly relevant for Ali, with the A-League club having established itself just two years ago, while Bula FC is still in its first year.

“We’re in a similar position to where Auckland FC started,” she said. “It was inspiring to learn how they’ve built their identity, grown their fan base and worked alongside existing clubs rather than competing with them. It showed us that regardless of size, clubs face many of the same challenges. The difference is having a clear vision and bringing people together to achieve it.”

A large take away for Fiji Football Association Technical Director David Baltese was football in New Zealand being delivered in simple, community focused ways.

“In Fiji, organising grassroots festivals can be expensive and complicated,” Baltese said. “Here we’ve seen football kept simple. Children are playing, parents are involved and volunteers help because they love the game. That’s something we want to take back and implement in Fiji.”

Ali was equally inspired by the role volunteers play within New Zealand clubs.

“People give their time simply because they love football and their community,” she said. “If we can build that culture in Fiji, it will make a huge difference to the growth of our clubs.”

The study visit exposed the delegation to clubs operating at different levels, providing practical examples of how clear structures, aligned philosophies and strong player pathways can support long-term success.

“Our visits ranged from a professional environment like Auckland FC to community clubs including Birkenhead United and East Coast Bays,” said Fiji U-16 and U-17’s Men’s Head Coach, Sunil Kumar.

“There was a lot of clarity, alignment and structure across every club we visited. We’re already doing development work in Fiji, but this gives us extra motivation and practical ideas that will help us improve what we’re doing.”

With Fiji recently qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Kumar believes the experience will help strengthen the pathway for the country’s next generation of players.

“We know New Zealand has set the benchmark in Oceania, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from them,” he said. “By strengthening our grassroots programmes and player pathways, we can help more young players progress into Bula FC, the OFC Professional League and hopefully even the A-League in the future.”

The OFC Placement Programme continues to provide Member Associations with opportunities to exchange knowledge, strengthen relationships and develop football across Oceania.

Watch full video interviews below: