In an effort to promote and develop women’s football in Tonga, the Tonga Football Association (TFA) has introduced the Coaches Curriculum Guide for the “This is How We Football” programme during a two-day workshop. The workshop, led by Adelaite Tu’ivailala, Head of Women’s Football, and her dedicated team, commenced on Monday, July 29th, at the Loto-Tonga Soccer Centre.
Launched in 2022, the “This is How We Football” programme is a legacy initiative from the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It has been developed in collaboration with the Women’s Football and Social Responsibility Department at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), with support from the UEFA Foundation for Children, UN Women, and other partners. The programme is designed as a Football for Good initiative, targeting girls aged 13-18. Its primary aim is to dismantle barriers preventing women and girls from participating in football and to foster lifelong engagement with the sport.
The programme directly addresses the concerns and feedback received from communities, creating safe, enjoyable, and inspiring environments for girls to play football. It also aims to establish pathways and role models to ensure their continued participation in the sport.
Madame Chair of the Women’s Football, Tupou Pasikala, expressed her gratitude and admiration for the hard work of the Women’s Department, especially Adelaite Tu’ivailala, during the opening of the workshop. Pasikala emphasized the importance of such programs in not only increasing the popularity of women’s football in Tonga but also ensuring a safe and entertaining environment for women, particularly young girls.
“Laite and her department have been working tirelessly to keep our women engaged in the sport, creating tournaments, applying for projects from FIFA, and much more. Now, they bring the ‘This is How We Football’ programme to further benefit our women in sports,” said Tupou Pasikala.
The “This is How We Football” programme was officially launched in Tonga in June 2023 with an initial two-day training session for coaches from four communities. The recent workshop introduced the Coaches Curriculum Guide along with a monitoring and evaluation booklet.
The workshop began with a session from the Talitha Project, which focused on gender empowerment and life skills, specifically financing and budgeting. The main focus of the workshop was to guide participants through the curriculum booklet, and it will conclude with practical sessions on the field. Additionally, a safeguarding session with Mrs. Palu Tu’amoheloa will be conducted to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.
The TFA’s commitment to advancing women’s football through such initiatives is expected to create lasting impacts, encouraging more girls and women to engage in and enjoy the sport.
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