Team members at the Tonga Football Association (TFA) are looking to turn new knowledge into action after completing the second seminar of the OFC Football Management Certificate, with a focus on strengthening the federation’s commercial, communications and financial capabilities.

The seminar – held in Nuku’alofa – was the second of three as part of the programme, designed to strengthen the capacity of Member Associations across key areas of leadership, administration and management.

Over the three days, participants engaged with sessions covering commercial, communications and financial management.

The delivery of the certificate programme reinforces one of OFC’s top strategic goals of leaving a lasting legacy by developing leaders and building capability across the region.

Tonga Football Association CEO Lui Ahio praised the programme and its impact which extends beyond the office.

” This program has proven highly useful in strengthening the skills and capacity of our staff equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to better serve football in Tonga. We highly value OFC’s continued support in building professional excellence within our federation.”
Tonga Football Association team members noting down ideas. Photo Credit: Tonga Football Association.

The seminars brought together team members from across the organisation, creating space for open discussion, shared learning and the exchange of ideas. TFA Chief of Football Kilifi Uele said the seminar offered valuable lessons across several areas of football management.

“The content itself is a big takeaway for me, starting from commercial, communication and finance. It’s essential for us, supporting the future of the Tonga Football Association, in terms of operation and organisation.”

Uele said the value of the programme extends beyond the sessions, with the learnings helping shape the wider organisational culture.

“It’s become an everyday part of our work. It creates the culture of Tonga Football Association. It will impact us so we can become more like a high-performance organisation. We’re looking forward to the next step and how we’re going to implement it right away.”

The practical focus of the sessions through interactive group works and discussions provided the space for the participants to reflect, acquire new knowledge insights, while exploring how these learnings could be implemented within TFA.

Kilifi Uele during a presentation. Photo Credit: Tonga Football Association.

TFA Head of Women’s Football Sepi Vea was especially grateful for the sessions as one of the association’s leaders.

“It’s a very great experience to be able to share our thoughts and ideas and what we think and how we can grow as an organisation,” Vea said. “Especially being in a leadership role, you lead by example for your staff.”

The opportunity to share ideas with colleagues was one of the key benefits Vea found from the sessions.

“It’s a great experience to be able to share our thoughts and ideas, what we think and how we can grow as an organisation.

“From seminar one to seminar two, the topics are very relevant. I think that it’s great all staff can be part of this programme and learn from one another.”

Tonga Football Association becomes the third Member Association to complete its second stage of the certificate, with the final seminar to be delivered later this year.

The OFC Football Management Certificate is delivered in collaboration with UEFA, through the UEFA Together programme.