The Fiji Football Association has completed a two-day training course for its department heads and senior staff as part of an initiative to raise leadership and operational standards across its branches nationwide. The sessions form the second module of a certification programme designed to strengthen the management capacity of football administrators and to professionalise how competitions, marketing and communications are delivered at national and local levels.
Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Yusuf said the programme is a collaboration between UEFA, the Oceania Football Confederation and member associations, and is intended to build stronger, more sustainable administration across the region. “This follow-up session focused on important areas such as marketing, sponsorship, revenue generation, competitions, and communications,” Yusuf said, noting the classroom work was tested through practical assignments submitted by participants.
Delegates presented assignments based on work they had been undertaking since the first module, which was conducted in November. Those presentations formed part of the assessment process for the certificate, with evaluators reviewing how participants applied learning to real operational challenges within their departments. The two-day module concentrated on translating strategy into revenue and engagement outcomes — from sponsorship proposals to competition delivery frameworks and communication plans.
Fiji is among the first Oceania Football Confederation member associations to take part in the initiative, alongside the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. Yusuf said being an early participant reflected Fiji’s commitment to improving governance and service delivery across its network of branches and affiliated bodies, and positioned the association to adopt regional best practice as the programme evolves.
The training series will conclude with a third and final module expected in June or July, when participants will complete their final assessments to be awarded certification. Completion of the final module is intended to validate the applied projects and ensure administrators can implement the reforms and commercial strategies developed during the course.
FFA officials say the programme is expected to have tangible benefits for local football by improving sponsorship readiness, competition organisation and communications with fans and partners, thereby increasing revenue and support for grassroots and elite programmes. Yusuf indicated the certification will also help standardise processes across the association’s branches, giving provincial offices clearer guidance and tools to run effective programmes.
The course forms part of a wider push within the OFC to professionalise football administration in the Pacific through targeted capacity-building and technical partnerships. For Fiji, the training marks a step toward stronger, more commercially sustainable administration that officials hope will translate into better-managed competitions and more reliable funding for the sport across the country.
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