Following Vanuatu’s impressive second-place finish in the inaugural Melanesian Futsal Cup tournament in Fiji, the Vanuatu Football Federation (VFF) expressed their dedication to providing equal attention to both futsal and outdoor football development.
VFF President Lambert Maltock welcomed the Vanuatu Gideons Futsal Team at VFF Haus today and commended their remarkable achievement. He emphasized the federation’s commitment to ensuring that the development of futsal in the country aligns with the ongoing efforts in traditional eleven-a-side football.
“Your outstanding accomplishment in securing second place behind Solomon Islands is a clear indication that we are heading in the right direction with our plans to give equal attention to all aspects of football, including futsal and women’s football,” stated President Maltock.
The Gideons team visited to present the second-place trophy to the federation and express gratitude for the continuous support, despite futsal receiving limited attention in recent years. President Maltock acknowledged that futsal had not been given sufficient priority over the past decade but assured that future budgets would encompass all categories of football, including futsal.
VFF Futsal Development Officer and head coach of the Gideons team, Ben Hungai, shared their next objective after the Melanesian Cup. “Our next project from now on is to qualify for the World Cup,” he stated. Coach Hungai emphasized that although the team lacked proper facilities for preparation, they had proven their potential to qualify for the World Cup based on their performance in the upcoming OFC qualifying tournament in October.
While neighboring Melanesian teams trained on dedicated futsal courts and facilities, the Vanuatu team made do with training at Independence Park, Wan Smolbag court, and other outdoor football grounds. Coach Hungai highlighted the need for proper futsal courts and facilities to further elevate the Vanuatu Futsal Team’s capabilities.
Head of Delegation and PENAMA FA President, Thomas Tau, expressed gratitude to VFF for their support and recommended the establishment of suitable futsal courts and facilities. “A strong Vanuatu Futsal team holds immense potential, but we require proper infrastructure. We are already competing at a high level, but with adequate facilities, winning tournaments and even qualifying for the World Cup are attainable goals,” stated Tau.
President Maltock concurred with the sentiments and provided assurance that VFF’s plan includes equal attention to all sectors of football development in Vanuatu, encompassing futsal and women’s football.
