Football is alive and thriving in Northern Vanuatu, as local communities, schools, and coaches came together with Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to strengthen the game from the grassroots up in August.

The Northern Region Grassroots & Coach Education Mission reached schools and communities across Santo – including Sarakata, Solway, Chapuis, Ste Therese, Rowhani, Santo East, Banban, Bombua, Kamewa, and Lycee de Luganville.

Led by Phill Pickering-Parker (OFC Player Development Officer) alongside Emerson Alcantara (VFF Youth National Coach), Vital Bong, and Trishal Warsal, the mission focused on building a sustainable football ecosystem through grassroots engagement, coach education, and community outreach.

Despite severe barriers such as limited equipment, transport challenges, and a lack of infrastructure, the passion of the communities shone through. At every visit, children turned up in numbers eager to play, while schoolteachers, volunteers, and community leaders stepped forward to ensure football continues to grow.

“Everywhere we went, the excitement was clear – football gives these kids joy, belonging, and ambition,” said Pickering-Parker. “The communities have shown that even with little, they can achieve a lot.”

The mission highlighted the dedication of local football leaders. Emerson Alcantara and Vital Bong have been central to growing the Northern Region Academy programme, while volunteers from schools such as Santo East, Ste Therese, Rowhani, and Kamewa provided crucial support in coaching and organizing games.

Importantly, the mission also recognized the role of women in football development. Plans are now in place to empower Trisha (Freda) Warsal as an accredited coach educator, enabling her to deliver women-only courses across the five northern regional associations.

The programme is closely aligned with the VFF Strategic Plan 2023–2026, with a clear focus on:

  • Increasing participation for children aged 8–12.
  • Training community-based coaches and volunteers.
  • Establishing structured competitions and pathways for talent identification.
  • Embedding inclusion and opportunities for women and girls.

Communities such as Santo East are already producing VFF national representatives, while schools like Ste Therese are leading the way in youth football engagement.

The mission laid the foundation for long-term sustainability, including:

  • A standardized grassroots coaching programme booklet to guide new coaches.
  • Accreditation of local coach educators (Alcantara, Bong, Trishal Warsal) to deliver official VFF/OFC coaching courses.
  • Development of women-only coaching pathways.
  • Ongoing community competitions and school leagues.

“Football is more than a sport here – it’s a unifying force,” said Alcantara. “We’ve seen the hunger for football in every community, and with the right support, this programme can transform the future of the game in Northern Vanuatu.”

VFF and OFC praised the resilience, spirit, and commitment of the Northern communities and pledged to continue supporting grassroots football development in the region.

Even in the face of barriers, Northern Vanuatu has shown that passion, teamwork, and determination are more powerful than challenges. With football as the vehicle, these communities are writing a new chapter of growth, opportunity, and pride.