Nauru Soccer Federation Relaunched
Nauru has relaunched the Nauru Soccer Federation in a bid to kickstart football on the world’s smallest island nation.
Gareth Johnson has joined the board, alongside Acting President Kaz Cain, while fellow Englishman Charlie Pomroy has been named as national coach. A former English Premier League player is lined up to join the coaching staff in 2024.
Nauru Soccer
A football association has been in existence in Nauru for a number of years but has been largely inactive in a formal sense. Locals have played games against Solomon Islands workers and refugees in the past, but neither were official matches. Football has generally taken the form of recreational, casual matches.
Nauru is one of just two countries on earth never to have played an international football match along with the Marshall Islands, but the aim is for that to change in the near future.
With the increased interest in the sport in the region and the likes of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands active, the aim is to offer the opportunity for Nauruans to play the world’s most popular sport on the international stage.
Nauru Soccer
As one of just 6 sovereign nations not to be part of a FIFA Confederation, Nauru’s natural aim will be to seek recognition from Oceania Football Confederation or Asia Football Confederation, which will bring support and finance to sustain the game for generations to come.
Is Pomroy set to leave Angkor City??
Pomroy will remain with Angkor City insisting that his involvement with this project will not deter him away from his primary focus of ACFC. He said;
“Angkor City is a club I’ve built from the ground up and is nowhere near where I believe or want it to be. Cambodia has also been my home for eleven years. This is where my wife is and where my children go to school and live. My commitments here won’t be affected day to day.
The Narau project is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a chance to work alongside some people who I have long admired and have a lot of respect for. I think most people will agree I’m not the most conventional of football coaches so the chance to work on a project like this is too good to turn down.
One of my biggest strengths as a coach is teaching people how to love this game and now I have the challenge of teaching a whole nation. I can’t wait”.
A national shirt is due in 2024 and is expected to be sought after from kit collectors around the world.