As the OFC/NZF Goalkeeper B Licence course entered its second and final stage in early November, three leading voices in the region reflected on a period of remarkable growth with a shared commitment to raising standards across Oceania.

The course brought together 19 coaches from across the region, including five from OFC Member Associations, returning to Auckland to build on work started earlier in the year.

Chris Marsh, OFC Education Consultant and Lead Developer for the course, had a clear purpose. “We’re looking for a GK B Licence coach to show us a clear coaching process, focusing on goalkeepers, but we want match realism,” he said. “Having outfielders in the session to bring that to life – and that’s the guts of it.”

Marsh has seen noticeable progress among Pacific coaches, all of whom arrive having already completed their Goalkeeper C Licence.

“They’re here learning on the job and we’ve seen huge growth in them,” he added. “If they can show us a clear coaching process in their final assessment, they’ll have earnt their licence, which will be fantastic.”

That licence opens doors across the professional landscape. “Getting your GK B Licence is going to open doors—OFC Pro League, A League, that sort of level,” Marsh said. “It’s quite exciting when you’re getting these qualifications and suddenly those new levels are available to you.”

For former Australian international and long-time women’s national team goalkeeping coach Tony Franken, the evolution in OFC goalkeeping has been striking. “I’ve already seen a massive change, especially in the goalkeeper department in OFC over the last couple of years,” he said. “When we first went to Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Fiji twenty years ago it was difficult for them. But they have got a lot better.”

Franken credits the support network built within OFC, including the work of educators visiting small, often isolated football communities. “They probably haven’t got an opportunity to get any feedback on how they’re doing things,” he explained. “James [Bannatyne] has done a wonderful job mentoring them, visiting them, doing workshops.”

At the same time, Franken’s own coaching philosophy echoes the values shaping OFC’s approach. “I care. I care about the game. I care about goalkeeping, and I care about my goalkeepers. I’ll back them and try to improve them as best as I can.” He said.

Much of that regional transformation has been steered by James Bannatyne, OFC Goalkeeping Development Consultant, whose work spans all 11 Member Associations. The GK B Licence course forms only part of a wider, people-first vision. “It’s always about people and trying to understand what motivates them, what’s important to them. It’s not always a Western approach, it’s supporting them to achieve what they want.”

Part two of the course centred on applying earlier learning and planning for assessments, but also on strengthening the network between coaches. “Care is one of our key values. Care for our goalkeepers and goalkeeper coaches, connect them together, and compete on the world stage.”

Together, Marsh, Bannatyne and Franken paint a picture of a region moving forward through people. Their collective work is shaping a new era of goalkeeper development across Oceania, one grounded in care, connection, and community.

Watch the video with Chris Marsh, James Bannatyne and Tony Franken below: