The Vanuatu Football Federation National Youth League Championship Day 1 kicked off in Port Vila yesterday and was action-packed with a high energy level of individual players displaying their best foot work and the provinces providing team strategy.
The competition schedule assigned all the Day 1 and Day 2 to 9am and 11am for Women U15 and U17, and Men U15 and 17 all played at 1pm and 3pm.
Unfortunately Port Vila forfeited 3 of its Day 1 matches as they were not ready, but hopefully they will put some action on Day 2 and 3 of the tournament.
The Women’s U17 match between Tafea and Shefa started off with a close exciting game with an attacking minded style and mostly a direct ball game.
Both teams looking to play their strikers in the game quickly and front players were brought in the game as quickly as they could but mistakes in their front line especially with Tafea had the officials flagged 3 offside goals.
However both keepers had a lot of work to do and they handled themselves very well and both teams played out from the back to maintain possession.
The outstanding players for Tafea in this match were Nance Killion and Marie Kittiow and Shefa has Liyo John who scored all 3 goals for Shefa to beat Tafea by 3 goals to 2.
In the end it was a good advertisement for women’s football.
Tafea and Malampa U15 played quality football today in the men’s side and despite reds losing to their blue opponent, their young men displayed a technical level of football which could be the benefit of being well trained.
Malampa was more of a physical team and Tafea a technical side but the blue’s speed and strength outran the red’s technicality and Malampa won by 4 goals to 2.
The match between host Port Vila and Shefa Men U17 saw the same direct style of play happening where many changes in possession mainly from mistakes made it difficult for one team to dominate.
But again both teams have strong physical fitness and their game plan is to get the ball to the attacking area quickly.
The game ended with a 2-2 draw.
The Oceania Football Federation Technical Adviser to Vanuatu Football Federation said he is happy and the teams showed a great football display in the first Day of the tournament.
“What we would like to see is teams playing with more possessions and to dominate their opposition more by playing through the midfield”, he said.
“It was a fast paced display of football in all games, the aim here is to identify players and network with coaches to put into place one vision, one nation”.
Day 2 sees the rounds continue and the Women U15 and U17 will take the morning period and men in the afternoon.
On Friday 22 (Day 3) is the final stage of the tournament and is the moment to see who will be the champions of the Women’s U15 and U17, and Men’s U15 and U17 of the Southern Region.
