Committed Tonga's fresh approach - Fifa.com

Tonga will not want for commitment and desire when they take the field next week in the opening round of Oceania qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. The Polynesian nations of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and hosts Samoa are currently preparing for this preliminary series, from which only one of the quartet will maintain their FIFA World Cup dream when competition concludes after five days.

For the last eight months, members of the Tonga national team squad have sacrificed all else to concentrate on a single and relatively humble goal – securing progression to Round Two, and a position alongside Oceania’s seven other nations next June in Fiji. For five to six days a week, Tonga’s elite players have sacrificed income and family commitments to make an almost daily trip to the Loto Tonga Soka Center along the bumpy roads of Tongatupa, the main landmass in an archipelago of almost 200 islands which comprise the Kingdom of Tonga.

Organisation and fitness therefore should not be a major factor for Tonga. However, few of the players have experienced FIFA World Cup football and many have not undergone modern basic training in childhood, as would be de rigueur for most international players.

Youthful zest
Charged with piecing together a cohesive national team, despite the many hurdles, is a novice coach in the shape of 25-year-old Chris Williams. Not only is the Australian making his international coaching entrance but he is in fact debuting as a senior coach. Indeed, some of the Tonga players are older than Williams, most notably 38-year-old Lokoua Taufahema, a veteran of the France 1998 qualifying campaign. To add further context, Slovakia’s Vladimir Weiss was the youngest coach at South Africa 2010 at 45, almost twice Williams' age. 

“The right place at the right time,” was how Williams described to FIFA.com his rapid ascension to become part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup story. “It is certainly a dream come true. Since I started coaching I wanted to coach an international team, and it certainly has come a lot quicker than I thought. My age doesn’t really matter to me, I just want to make a fist of it now and lead the team to victory.”

The Tongan players’ unwavering commitment suggests that half the challenge has already been overcome. Not that Williams lacks understanding of the unique obstacles in this part of the world, having lived and breathed the local game since arriving in Tonga some 18 months ago as a volunteer aid worker. Nor, one senses, does he lack for football knowledge, having coached for a decade and having spent time absorbing and learning the trade with apprenticeships at Motherwell and FC Copenhagen.

To add to the distinctive challenges facing Williams’ team is that many of the squad will take to the field next week against American Samoa in Apia making their international debut. Tonga’s paucity of international exposure is also a hindrance. They have played just two internationals since the South Africa 2010 qualifiers concluded in September 2007.

Island dreaming
On the surface, it would seem Tonga have cause for optimism given a positive historical record against their opponents, having beaten all three in previous qualifying campaigns, and also claiming a draw and a narrow loss against the Cook Islands two years ago. However, Tonga - unlike American Samoa and Cook Islands - did not have the benefit of invaluable international experience which came with contesting the Pacific Games in September.

The Tongans had to make do with a ten-day trip to New Zealand in September and matches against local sides, while also making a brief stop-over in Fiji this week and a meeting against Fiji’s crack club outfit Lautoka. “We will be underdogs,” Williams says of Oceania’s opening round of Brazil 2014 qualifiers. “Cook Islands and American Samoa benefitted by playing in the Pacific Games in September, but we believe we have an effective strategy which can get us three wins.

“I have imparted my philosophy to the boys and they believe in what we are doing. Of course the ultimate goal is to qualify, however I have watched the other three teams play and really, if you are the coach of Cook Islands or Samoa, you would be expecting to win. It’s not a beauty contest though... if we win three games, we will go through.

“There is definitely some talent in this group and I’d like to think we can maybe surprise a few teams in Samoa. Our road to Samoa has been a very difficult path, however the boys have shown so much positive transformation and improvement. I have faith in my boys and I believe they will deliver that diehard Tongan spirit.”

Tonga’s talent pool is small, with players selected only from Tongatupa, which has a population of around 50,000, many of whom are focussed on the national sport of Rugby. But the squad, Williams says, have demonstrated a level of devotion and undiluted joy for the game not always found in more professional environments. “The level of desire and commitment has been phenomenal,” said Williams. “Really it is costing the players to play while they are away from jobs or their farmland. I can’t speak highly enough of the players, so I really hope we come away with a couple of results."

Tommy Park brings fresh outlook Alexandria Soccer Association-Potomac Soccer wire

A regional all-American during his college career at the University of Mary Washington, the Park has experience in many levels of the football scene in the region. He played and coached in d.c. United, and served as an assistant coach at local prep powerhouse DeMatha Catholic high school in a leading role in success of Maryland under 19 boys ' side SAC United Premier.

John Killed, President of the ASA, excitement around the new role of the Park, saying, "we are excited to bring new energy and direction to the Club. Tommy is a proven leader with top-level game experience and coaching. "

Now, having just barely settled into the new title and the Bureau already Park and changes both big and small, thinking about how to develop and improve the ASA.

"Now my image is too wide, while at the same time I exchange ideas about and even begins to implement very specific initiatives," says Park.

An initiative has been installed right off the bat. The Park has started hosting age open sessions, free and open to every level of play on Wednesday nights in July, Ben Brenman Park located off Duke Street in South Alexandria. This is a small example that will help the Park hopes much larger goals.

Such intra-club activities and events that Park wants to see more of.

"I want to make an effort to develop stronger links are created in the Club," he explains, "improving and maintaining a distinct club culture and identity."

Park hopes to develop a more inclusive atmosphere, and bringing together parents and coaches more often, this will eliminate the chance that clubs and coaches will take singular or selfish perspective.

Depth and integration appear to be keywords for the Park and outlook. "We understand the value of focus at all levels of the game, including recreation clubs," he says.

This does not mean highly competitive travel clubs is not a priority for the Park. While some clubs can focus exclusively on player development in only the highest levels, believes that a more comprehensive approach could eventually return to the higher levels.

"I want to put some initiatives developed by some kids in later ages, which in turn eventually evolved into an opportunity for children to play at the next level," he says. "We will focus on the unique physical and technological development initiatives that will improve players top to bottom."

With completeness, park resources and wants his team to go elsewhere for indoor soccer, nor for the speed and agility training or College prep classes.

"We want to do everything we can," he says.

The idea of also includes parents and coaches.

"There are too many programs at the moment that give incentives to coach us to move forward and upward," said Park. Intends to change this, offering more opportunities for In-house training.

The same applies to parents who Park will encourage to undertake basic trainer.

"If I can get parents to repeat, to strengthen the technical, now all of a sudden it is not only once a month, is more stable technical training," notes.

This also applies to the community in General. What some may consider it a challenge to work in a more complex urban environment by many clubs, Park considers a force.

"There is great diversity in Alexandria, both racially and socio-economically," he says, noting that great players come from all walks of life.

"You just have to do a better job of communicating with the community," says Park. "We must improve our scholarship program, so that we have fewer barriers for children who want to play Football-and we need education about the programs that should offer their children."

Park in the Community interest is not simply an attempt to discover talented players, is a real, comprehensive action.

"We must continue to partner with the city of Alexandria on other programs outside of player development. Healthy living initiatives through soccer, soccer for children with disabilities and soccer for young children, "explains Park.

Clearly, ASA has many good things in front of them, if they can follow to park some of these large and aggressive objectives. He knows he's got a lot on the plate, but it is sure that working from a solid base.

"We have great facilities, very motivated parents and members of the Board," says Park.

Park believes that with this kind of good structure, and a few new faces to help (he plans to call a Director of player development coaching) should be able to hit the ground running and running quickly.