Football Australia has partnered with the Australian Government to support the growth of elite football in the neighbouring Pacific nations.
Through the four-year investment deal delivered by PacificAus Sports, this new partnership will focus primarily on regular international competitions between Australian and Pacific Island international teams.
The outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
These competitions will include both men’s and women’s teams from all age groups.
The renewed partnership follows a number of successful initiatives involving Pacific nations, starting with the 2019 Pacific Tour to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga by Australia’s Junior Matildas, before expanding to include Australian age-group men’s and women’s national football teams.
Furthermore, this will include futsal national teams and competitions and allow for regular competitive games for pacific nations against upcoming and experienced Australian teams.
This partnership will also aim to deliver capacity building initiatives for the development of players, officials and administrators in the Pacific.
In conjunction with this, PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’.
Though Australia left the Oceania Football federation (OFC) for the Asian Federation in 2006, due to the geographical proximity of the pacific nations, Football Australia has always tried to maintain a strong and supportive relationship with its island neighbours.
Football Australia’s Chair Anter Issac commented:
“Australian football has many natural connections and intersections with the Pacific through a long-shared history of the game in this region. The surge in interest and inspiration for the game across the Pacific, particularly after our co-hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand™, is undeniable,” he said via media release.
“Our relationship with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is a cornerstone of our regional strategy.
“The collaborative efforts between Football Australia and OFC and Member Associations across the region have been critical in strengthening our ties within the Pacific, allowing us to work together towards common objectives and ensuring the continued development of football in the region.”
Australia’s wealth and talent in football is a massive asset for its neighbours and one which they count on for a lot of support.
It will also help to try and bring connection and personal links with the sport and the local communities to help with the growing support of the sport in the region.
Additionally, there is opportunity for investors and sponsors to gain huge benefits form this partnership and its future.
For Australia, this initiative in supporting the Pacific Island’s football both helps develop Pacific footballing quality, and connects the entire region closer.
