World Footy News

AFL Vanuatu has informed WFN that the first Australian football club has been formed in Vanuatu. Based in the village of Erakor, Vanuatu’s first ‘AFL’ club is named the Golden Star AFL club.

AFL Vanuatu’s Justin Johnson reports that Erakor is Vanuatu’s second largest village and is only a short drive from the capital Port Vila on the island of Efate.

In December last year, 5 youths mainly from the Erakor Village area, attended the AFL Oceania Cup Under 16s tournament held in Tonga. The lads made up a combined team, the Presidents 18, along with some lads from Samoa and more local lads from Tonga.

Mal Thiel, who has been taking charge of duties in Vanuatu, took on the role as assistant coach and manager of the Presidents 18. This role was made all the harder when a couple of days in the lads were subject to theft, losing among other things passports and a video camera. Despite this set back, they played on. One Vanuatu player was invited to be part of the 40 strong ‘Combine’ testing held as part of the tournament. Another player, young Robert, who sells coconuts on the side of the road to earn his bus fare to get to training, has been selected in an Oceania U16 side set to play in the NSW state titles across Easter (more on that later as we find out more details).

Coach Mal Thiel related that Robert’s father was a very good soccer player, and he’d taught his son Robert very well. Apparently Robert’s skills saw him bullied for being too good and he declared that he didn’t want to play soccer any more. He’s now discovered footy, with no exposure to AFL on TV, just the game. His parents and village are now getting right behind him and the game.

Justin reports that the enthusiasm in Erakor Village has been incredible.

“We have met with the soccer club and have made an agreement to turn the soccer ground into a multi sports facility including permanent AFL goals. Very exciting stuff. They are preparing a letter to apply to Aus Aid in order to get some assistance with the preparation of the ground and the movement of the soccer ground so that it fits better with AFL. The ground is right next to the school so its one of those classic win:win:win:wins. Chiefs, school principals, soccer coaches and AFL new recruits are all rooting for AFL.”