Alick Alan, VFF’s Referee Development Officer, departed on April 10, 2025. It was a sudden goodbye, and none of us were ready to accept this reality.
I was the last person to speak with Alan and was supposed to be the first to see him the following day. I genuinely want to share his personality and the moments we experienced together.
On the morning before his death, Alan sent me FIFA’s referee policies for the year, along with related photos, asking me to post them on Facebook. That day, I was deeply immersed in negotiations for a partnership with Japan’s J.League, and I set his message aside.
That evening, I finally remembered and uploaded the article around 6 p.m. When I apologized to Alan for the delay, he replied gently, “No, the partnership with Japan is far more important. My article isn’t urgent.”
Just before heading home that night, for some reason, six staff remained at the stadium, joking and chatting with Alan. I joined in briefly. As I got up to leave, Alan said, “Tomorrow morning, tell me the full details of today’s meeting with Japan. I’ll come to your room first thing.” Those were his last words to me.
But the next morning, Alan never came.
I simply assumed he had overslept and didn’t think much of it. Around 2 p.m., a young referee came to ask, “Have you seen Alan?” There was a friendly match against Australia that day, and they needed referee uniforms—but the referee room was locked.
The young man headed to Alan’s house, just a 10-minute walk from the office. But the door was locked, and there was no response when he called out. Worried, he contacted the landlord and the police. When they entered the room together, they found Alan… already still and cold.
Everyone believes he passed away due to a stomach illness. Right now, doctors are investigating. He had departed quietly, so quietly.
I’m a JICA volunteer from Japan, working in the media team of the Vanuatu Football Federation. When I arrived in August 2024, knowing nothing of the language or culture, the very first person to reach out to me was Alan.
“Do you think we could get an electronic substitution board from Japan?”
That was the first thing he asked me, his eyes serious. I was caught off guard, but I soon realized that Alan was always thinking about how he could help referees.
Alan often visited our media room, sometimes just sitting next to me, watching YouTube in silence. But that quiet presence brought me so much comfort. I think he was looking out for me—so that I wouldn’t feel lonely.
He listened to my stories and grew more interested in Japan. He even searched for Japanese songs on his own and played them softly on his phone.
“This one’s good, isn’t it?” It was a famous Japanese singer. In a foreign land, Alan quietly stood by my side so that I wouldn’t feel alone.
He also shared the natural blessings of Vanuatu with me. “Have you seen this fruit before?” “Do you know this nut?” He’d hand them to me with a smile.
It wasn’t just a kind gesture. It was his way of saying, “I want you to love this country more.” That warm smile as he watched me happily eat—I will never forget it.
When it came to referees, Alan’s eyes would light up with passion. After he became a Referee Development Officer (RDO) in January 2025, his dedication grew even stronger.
“Write about these newly certified referees.”
“I’m holding a class to teach kids about refereeing—please cover it.”
“These two are officiating the OFC Champions League. You have to feature them.”
He always spoke with fire in his voice. He didn’t care about the spotlight being on him; he simply wanted the unseen to be seen.
“Referees are always overlooked. That’s why I want you to write about them.”
That was the message he entrusted to me. In response, I wrote more articles about referees and took more photos. Now, the reason you see so many referees on VFF’s Facebook page is because of Alan’s passion.
There were instances when Alan requested that I share posts about referees, which were originally featured on personal Facebook pages, on the VFF’s official Facebook page. However, I declined this request. I believed it was not appropriate to set a precedent of promoting personal pages on the official platform of Vanuatu’s representative football organization.
He wanted to nurture the future of referees. For him, it wasn’t just a “job”—it was a calling. He taught children what a whistle means. He showed young referees the dreams they could chase. Even after he was gone, he believed a future of fair judgment would take root in Vanuatu.
Not long ago, when I told him my son was coming from Japan, Alan said, “Could he bring me some medicine for my stomach?” I passed the medicine to him. Later, I asked, “Did it help?”
He smiled and said, “I haven’t taken much. I don’t want to waste it. That one line still stays in my heart. If only he had taken it more often…
After he passed, I carefully looked through his Facebook page for the first time. That’s when I discovered that the FIFA photos and information one day before his death he sent me were actually from someone’s personal page. He must have known I wouldn’t post it if I knew the source—so he made it look like it came from FIFA directly.
He went to great lengths because he was determined to get articles about referees published. When I saw that, I couldn’t help but cry. It showed how deeply he cared about sharing news about referees and how passionately he invested in their future.
To Alan,
The passion you left behind—
We will carry it forward.
You no longer have to bear this burden alone.
We will walk with you toward the future of referees that you once envisioned.
So please, rest in peace, Alan.
Your dream will live on.
To Alan.
Alick Alain:
The Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) is profoundly saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Alick Alain, who held the position of Referee Development Officer (RDO). He was born on May 2, 1975, and passed away on April 10, 2025.
