Elite Football Academy

🚨 𝟏𝟓 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐤. 𝐍𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. 🚨

In December 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎, Fiji’s men’s national team ended the year ranked 𝟏𝟓𝟐 in the world. 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟓𝟐.

https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/FIJ?gender=men
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
Ministry of Youth and Sports FIJI

📉 𝐈𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞:

💧Dropped as low as 199 (2015).
🛟Floated mostly between the 160s and 180s.
🪜Never climbed higher than where we were 15 years ago - September 2010 - Best Rank 127.
⚽The final ranking of 152 in 2010 was bettered only once in 2024.

🌍 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬

Meanwhile, Burundi — often cited among the world’s poorest nations — is ranked 141 today. Their progress shows that even with limited resources, steady improvement is possible. If they can climb, then Fiji can too.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦.
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⚠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤?

❌ Limited opportunities for independent academies and coaches.
❌ Limited third-party investment in grassroots football.
❌ No long-term international strategy.
❌Football has often been managed without the kind of long-term planning and accountability that drives progress internationally.
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🏗️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨

✅ Open pathways for academies, clubs, and coaches.
✅ Attract investment in facilities, coaches, and community programs.
✅ Set measurable international goals.
✅ Run football like a business — strategic, accountable, results-driven.

Let’s open a respectful conversation about how we can build a better future for Fijian football — together.

⚡ 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭?

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents – demand real opportunities
⚽ Players – speak up for fair pathways
👨‍🏫 Coaches & clubs – unite for reform
🏛️ Leaders & regulators – listen, act, collaborate

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🖊️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

✅ Share this message
✅ Vote here Open Football Fiji to support a more inclusive approach to football.
✅ Support independent academies
✅ Follow Elite Football Academy for updates & action
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𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭.



𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: This post is based on publicly available FIFA ranking data and reflects my personal opinion on the need for systemic reform in Fijian football. It is not directed at any individual or organization. Readers are encouraged to review the facts, form their own opinions, and engage respectfully. This post does not intend to defame or harm any individual, group, or organization. It is published in good faith to advocate for systemic improvements in Fijian football and to encourage constructive discussion.

💪𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥.

Right now, too many young players face barriers — no games, no recognition, and little support. Independent academies and community programs can change this, but the system makes it difficult.

👉 Here’s my story and why I believe Fiji needs a more inclusive future in football.

(👇Full story below)

💪 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢! 🗳️

We need your voice. Vote today to support inclusive football development that empowers every child, coach, and academy to thrive—regardless of skill level, background, or affiliation.

✅ Vote in our poll now—every vote counts!

👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1278626583548911/

✅ Share this post.
✅ Make your voice count.
✅ Help change the game.

⚽ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬. 𝐀 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦. 𝐍𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝. ⚽

Over 100 kids showed up regularly with nothing more than balls, cones, and a dream.

Two years ago, my friend Charlie Jackson invited me to help out in the community-based football development efforts he was involved in through the McDonald’s League program organized by the Fiji Football Association (FFA).

From this experience, we saw both the need and the potential to establish a self-sustaining and independent football academy—one that could complement the existing system and work alongside FFA to nurture talent more inclusively.

Although we were part of the program, our players did not participate in any McDonald’s League games, highlighting some of the structural challenges independent programs can face.

On top of that, the ground rental cost of $200 per month (later $250) had to be covered by us. This was a significant financial challenge given there was no revenue model to make the program sustainable.

Even so, the kids continued to show up, displaying incredible passion and potential in the face of these obstacles.

During this time, my sisters were visiting from overseas and overheard me discussing with Charlie the very small amount we had been able to collect from the children to cover the ground rental.

Moved by what they heard, they generously sponsored the ground rent for six months, allowing the program to continue and giving the kids a chance to keep pursuing their dreams.

To make the program sustainable in the long term, I reached out to FFA to seek formal registration. The aim was to legitimize the program and open avenues for revenue generation to cover operational costs, maintain equipment, and support player development.

However, I was advised that the program could only be registered as a youth club under the Lautoka Football Association (LFA), not as an academy. The club registration fee with LFA was set at $400.

From what I understand, this structure operates within the local association’s framework and currently does not provide independent programs with a formal revenue pathway.

Without a viable revenue model, it becomes almost impossible to create the kind of program young players deserve.

Development must be treated with the discipline of a business—not because football is about profit, but because sustainability requires structure.

When resources are secured and invested wisely, people are motivated to improve every day. That’s when innovation happens, that’s when growth takes place, and that’s when real progress is made—for players and for the game itself.

Once the sponsorship period ended, financial challenges quickly resurfaced. Despite the program’s potential, financial constraints eventually paused its progress—underscoring the need for creating more sustainable support structures for independent programs.

Efforts like these, if nurtured, could spark the kind of innovation Fiji’s football development urgently needs—an approach that inspires hope, empowers communities, and builds new pathways for the future.

Independent academies and community-driven initiatives bring in fresh ideas, alternative methods, and more opportunities for players and coaches.

They encourage creativity, grassroots engagement, and training diversity—all of which strengthen the national system.

Many successful football nations thrive because they allow both official structures and independent pathways to coexist, creating healthy competition that raises standards and maximizes opportunities for young talent.

In Fiji, supporting such efforts could mark the beginning of a new era—one where football development isn’t limited to a single pathway, but enriched by many voices and approaches working together for the good of the game.

Since then, I have raised these concerns with the Fiji Competition & Consumer Commission (FCCC), and the matter is currently under review.

My vision goes beyond a single program: I want to see an inclusive and open development system—one where every child, coach, and independent academy can participate freely, regardless of skill level, background, or affiliation.

💪 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞: share your views, voice your support, and help push for a system that:

Empowers inclusivity and innovation
Supports dedicated coaches
Gives every child the chance to dream, train, and succeed
✅ Vote in our poll today—your voice matters! 🗳️
✅ Share this post.
✅ Help change the game.



Disclaimer: All statements made herein are based on the author’s direct involvement, personal observations, and understanding of events. This content is intended solely to share experiences and advocate for constructive dialogue and systemic improvement. It is not intended to defame, discredit, or harm any individual, organization, or institution in any way. Any references to entities or individuals are made respectfully and in the context of public interest, with the aim of fostering transparency, inclusivity, and progress. Readers are encouraged to form their own opinions and engage respectfully in the conversation.