In a thrilling match at the 2023 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship held in Fiji today, Vanuatu exhibited an impressive display of goal-scoring prowess against Tonga. The standout performance of the day came from the talented Elina Aruvuha, who not only opened the scoring for Vanuatu but also netted the second goal contributing to their remarkable victory.
Elina Aruvuha’s achievements hold significant importance as they reflect the success of the decentralization program initiated by the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF). Under this program, Development Centers and satellite centers were established in various provinces across Vanuatu, with the aim of nurturing and discovering talent from regions beyond the capital, Port Vila.
With an overwhelming 80% of the players in the U-19 team hailing from provinces other than Port Vila, Elina Aruvuha’s journey showcases the effectiveness of this grassroots initiative. It was in 2019 that Coach Robert Yalou first discovered her while she was participating in the Penama youth team.
Following her identification, Elina returned to her home island of Ambae, where she continued her training under the guidance of the VFF Penama Development Centre’s Satellite program in West Ambae. The program, led by VFF Development Officer Samsley Vanua, aimed to provide aspiring talents like Elina with the necessary resources and support to further develop their skills.
A noteworthy achievement was the selection of eight players from the Ambae VFF satellite program in the Vanuatu U-19 Women’s team.
President Maltock of the VFF emphasized the significance of football reaching every province and island, not just the major cities of Port Vila and Luganville. The team’s participation in the championship serves as a pivotal moment in the decentralization program of football in Vanuatu. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the VFF successfully scouted and recruited the country’s best players to represent Vanuatu with pride.
The Vanuatu U-19 team performance today stands as a testament of Vanuatu Football Federation grassroots development efforts and highlights the potential for talent to emerge from all corners of the nation.
