Vanuatu: who will be next National Team head coach?

After the schedule and dates of the upcoming OFC Nations Cup were released, all local federations of Oceania have a clear picture of the time they will have to preapre their national teams for the most important football competition of ther region. New Zealand already stated they will be fielding a U23 team in the competition and Fiji already named their new head coach in order to prepare for the competition. The competiton is nearing, but still one of the most football crazy nations in Oceania is still to announce their new head coach and to inform their fans what will be done for their preparation for OFC Nations Cup 2020. Vanuatu already reached the semifinals of the tournament as their best campaign; having players as Brian Kaltak, Jason Thomas and Mitch Cooper can put them in a serious position to be contenders for the title of the tournament – but a good preparation is certainly required.

After the departure of the North-Irish coach Paul Munster that last coached Vanuatu national team in the Pacific Games in 2019 held in Samoa, the post as head coach for national team is empty. In the U23 Olympic Qualifiers in September, 2019 – the most recent international tournament played by the country – the local and experienced Etienne Mermer took place to guide the team that displayed a good football and achived the third place in the competition.

Vanuatu has a big history at OFC Nations Cup, reaching the semi finals of the competition for four times – in 1973, 2000, 2002 and 2008. Despite their good records, they are still to reach the grand final match of the tournament – being unable to reach the semifinals in the last two editions of the Nations Cup, in 2012 and 2016.

In 2016 – the last edition of the OFC Nations Cup – the current co-coach of Galaxy in PVFA Premier League Moise Poida was the head coach of the team. Vanuatu was grouped alongside New Zealand, Fiji and Solomon Islands and ended at the bottom of the group with just one victory – against Fiji by 3-2 – unable to reach the semifinals and the next stage of the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The best three ranked teams by each of the two groups in the competition would proceed to the third and final stage of the World Cup qualifiers in OFC.

In the 2012 edition of the competiton another local coach was the responsible to guide Vanuatu in the OFC Nations Cup. It was Percy Avock, that had experience of coaching in New Caledonia with the traditional AS Mont-Dore, most recently, in 2017, Percy Avock was in charge of Malampa Revivors in their first appearance in OFC Champions League.

Vanuatu was also not succesful in their campaign in edition held in Solomon Islands. They lost two of their three matches, being able just to beat Samoa by 5-0. Tahiti and New Caledonia, both sides who completed the group, advanced for the semifinals and both met in the grand final where Tahiti won by 1-0.

In 2008 the format of the competition was different: the 2007 South Pacific Games held in Apia would serve as part of the OFC World Cup qualifiers and qualify three teams for the next stage – the 2008 OFC Nations Cup – to compete alongside New Zealand for a spot in the intercontinental playoffs. Another local – the current Tafea FC general manager Robert Calvo – was in charge as head coach of the national side. Calvo was succesful to qualify Vanuatu for the OFC Nations Cup, as they earned bronze in the 2007 South Pacific Games.

Calvo and his players were grouped alongside New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji – being the first placed-side in the group the champions of the 2008 OFC Nations Cup. Vanuatu finished at 4th in the competition, but in the round-robin competition were able to draw against New Caledonia and win Fiji, both matches played at Korman Stadium, Port Vila.

The most succesful coach in Vanuatu history comes from far away the Pacific Islands: the Uruguyan Juan Carlos Buzzetti coached the team from 2000 until 2004, being the responsible for three campaigns at OFC Nations Cup – 2000, 2002 and 2004, qualifying his team for two semifinals in the three competiton he coached the national side.

The 2000 Melanesian Cup – divided with two groups of five teams – served as qualifiers for the OFC Nations Cup in the same year. Vanuatu was not succesful in the Group A as they finshed 3rd – behind Fiji and Solomon Islands – and only the two spots would advance. Due a civil unrest in Fiji, the team could not proceed to the next stage and the spot was awarded to the 3rd placed Vanuatu in the run.

Vanuatu was grouped alongside New Zealand and Tahiti, losing to New Zealand but beating Tahiti in the process to qualify to the next stage. Vanuatu faced the powerful Australia in the semifinal, but the Buzzetti coached side were able to hold the Socceroos to only a 1-0 win. In the bronze medal match, Vanuatu was beaten by Solomon Islands by 2-1.

In 2002, Vanuatu reached the semifinals once again under the guidance of Buzzetti. They lost their match against Australia by 2-0 in the Group A, but were able to beat Fiji and New Caledonia to reach the decisive playoffs.

In Auckland, New Zealand was the opponent of the Ni-Vanuatu side. Unfortunatelty for the Uruguyan and his team, they suffered a 3-0 defeat by the hands of the home side. Vanuatu could got their first bronze medal in the competition, but they were once more beaten at the 3rd place match playoff by 1-0 against Tahiti.

In 2004 OFC Nations Cup Vanuatu could not reach the same success they had in their previous two editions, but one epic moment happened in their football history, understood to be the most important achievement of Vanuatu football history: their 4-2 win against New Zealand. Their schocking win against the All-Whites took them out of the final match of the tournament. Vanuatu lost all other matches in the competition, but Buzzetti and his players could celebrate a fantastic moment.

Vanuatu has a lot of potential in their country; already introducing to Oceania very good players – since the historical Richard Iwai until the current days star Brian Kaltak. Their organization might be crucial to find another impressive result in the upcoming 2020 OFC Nations Cup – but the time is running out and, even having very good players, it is necessary to make a team from it good enough to compete at the regional stage. The fans are intrigued, waiting the steps of Vanuatu Football Federation.