VFF and PVFA need more professionalism

Oceania Football Center recently reported that Tupuji Imere has signed two players from Vaum FC. But according to local sources these transfers are controversial and should not be allowed by Vanuatu Football Federation.

According to local reliable sources, the football transfer window is closed in Port Vila since 28 August and these players should never had their transfers approved by VFF. On the other hand there are some exceptions that could allow players to be transfered outside the transfer window in Vanuatu.

Normally exceptions are only made for special situations like if a student has to change school, or when some worker is transferred to work in another island. Getting the transfer approved by VFF should not be so easy like it seems because players and team need to provide evidences that they are really being transferred to work. So they could only request transfer outside window if they were working in Luganville and then being transferred to work in Port Vila and it did not happen.

Tupuji Imere used this exception rule but both players received a job from Classic Printers Vanuatu, a company that is Tupuji Imere’s sponsor. So they only got a job because they were already committed to play for Tupuji. What was done with these transfers can open doors to any transfers anytime because every team would be able to break the transfer rules at these conditions.

That is not the only problem that falls over VFF and PVFA. Lack of organization and transparency are huge problems when it comes to Ni-Van football associations. In last December it was announced that Vanuatu would join COMET system, a football management system, designed to centralize all records related to football clubs, matches and competitions and automate key business processes. Vanuatu really joined COMET but they do not use it properly. According to an organization that has full access to COMET, Vanuatu does not put these information in the system so there is a big lack of information even for OFC people that should know everything about football in the country. Managers and local football administrators do not provide information while Vanautu’s football remains obscure and unknown to international eyes. Maybe they have something to hide about the organizational problems and their incompetence.

Information about championships and results should be available to people. There is no official source bringing information about VFF National Super League or Port Vila Premier League. All information are provided by local people in Facebook groups. For example, it is possible to get reliable information about regional leagues in Australia or South Korean third division, but it is very difficult to find information about Port Vila First Division (second tier). It is not about the league division. It is all about informaton, a basic thing that does not happen there in Vanuatu and it is not only in football or other sports.

Recently Dan McGary had his work permit renewal denied. McGary is the Daily Post media director, the main online media source of Vanuatu supposedly because of some critics he made to local government. Freedom of the press is something basic and it looks like it is not being respected there.

Recently VFF announced a new coaching philosophy that can help the development of football in the country but there are some important things that must be done now. Oceania Football Center reported that Port Vila Stadium pitch was in terrible conditions. After one month the situation is worse, making it impossible to play in a decent level. “They do not care about the field” said a player. “PVFA is not a trustworthy association at the moment, Port Vila Premier Leauge is the biggest league in Vanuatu and they do not provide enough resources that are required during a league game […] The condition of the field is very bad because not only Premier Division teams are using Port Vila Stadium. Other Divisions also use that same stadium throughout the week so it is hard to maintain and repair the grass.” said another person involved with football in Port Vila.

While players and coaching staff struggles with a terrible field to play, Korman Stadium has a perfect grass and it is only being used by Women’s League. Having a good field really could help to increase the level of football playing there in Vanuatu because the level of the players is not among the biggest issues.

The match between Erakor Golden Star and Galaxy FC was livestreamed by Galaxy organization and it was possible to see how bad the pitch was. The terrain was so bad that players could not predict ball’s trajectory and it caused some “funny” scenes like a ball bouncing mysteriously on the field and hitting a player’s face.

Other problems like the league schedule also annoy team managers. They only received the official and corrected Port Vila Premier League schedule after the beginning of the league. It is unnaceptable.

It is very nice seeing VFF and PVFA trying to develop local football specially at youth level. But it is necessary to leave old habits and old minded people behind if they really want to progress. Vanuatu has a lot of talented players and they need to have the necessary structure to develop. There are many things that can be changed to improve local football immediately.