The Tonga Football Association successfully completed Seminar 1 of the OFC Football Management Certificate last week, following a productive three-day workshop held from 24–26 February in Loto-Tonga Football Centre, Tongatapu.
The seminar was facilitated by OFC Head of Member Association Services, Dudley Langelier, alongside human resources expert Kerry Lila. The workshop brought together all TFA staff based in Tongatapu, including General Secretary Lui ‘Aho, for an intensive and interactive learning experience focused on strengthening football administration in Tonga.
Over the course of the three days, participants engaged in discussions and practical activities covering key themes such as the global football landscape, people management, leadership, and strategic planning. The sessions encouraged staff to reflect on their own roles within the organisation and identify ways to improve performance and collaboration in their daily work.
Speaking on the completion of the first seminar, Dudley Langelier highlighted the importance of the programme in TFA’s development journey.
“This interactive first seminar of the OFC Football Management Certificate serves as an important milestone in supporting the Tonga Football Association in their journey to high performance. The seminar focused on key topics enabling the participants to reflect, discuss and apply the content to their own situation, providing not only an opportunity for personal development but also practical outcomes for the organisation.”
TFA General Secretary Lui ‘Aho expressed gratitude to OFC for delivering the programme in Tonga and acknowledged the value it brings to the association.
“Tonga Football is very thankful to OFC for the initiative of bringing in this OFC Football Management Certificate seminar and running it here in Tonga for the past three days, and we are very thankful to Dudley and Kerry for making it happen.”
He further emphasized the long-term impact of the programme on the organisation’s growth and leadership culture.
“This OFC Management Certificate focuses on man management and leadership, and to me it is a catalyst in hastening the change of our mindset in doing things. It strengthens our leadership capacity by equipping us with modern management principles, planning tools and governance frameworks aligned with international best practice standards. This means we are in a better position to make informed decisions, improve our operational efficiency, and implement sustainable development programmes.”
“Strong leadership at the administrative level directly impacts the growth of football on the field. When management is structured, transparent and strategic, TFA benefits. For the past three days, the experience has been enriching and inspiring, with the facilitators ensuring the sessions were interactive, practical and directly applicable to our daily work. We are truly thankful to OFC for all this.” Mr ‘Aho added.
Following the successful completion of Seminar 1, the second part of the OFC Football Management Certificate is expected to be conducted around June or July, continuing TFA’s commitment to building strong leadership and high-performance standards within the organisation.
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