Elsewhere In Football #13

Building Football in Nauru: 18 Months On

This week I was delighted to be featured in iGol, a Polish football magazine, for the work we’ve been doing in Nauru—a tiny island in the Pacific with big dreams of playing its first ever competitive football match. You can read the article here.

It’s now been 18 months since the project began, and while things may have looked quiet from the outside, behind the scenes the optimism and momentum remain strong.

How It All Began.....

In 2023, I was appointed Head Coach of Nauru alongside former Premier League striker Dave Kitson, with the shared ambition of leading the country to its first official international game. The story gained global attention, with features on the BBC, FourFourTwo, Forbes, and many others.

We quickly established key partnerships with Giordano and Young Pioneer Tours, who introduced us to Stingz, one of the most exciting kit designers in the game. Together, we created what I believe is one of the most striking national team kits ever produced.

Early Plans and Setbacks.....

Our original plan was simple but historic:

• Travel to the island for a training camp

• Select a national team

• Set up a coaching structure

• Return for Nauru’s first friendly match

However, 2024 presented unforeseen challenges. Funding delays and logistical hurdles slowed progress, and the on-field debut had to be postponed.

A New Direction....

During this time, my role evolved into Technical Director of Nauru, focusing not just on the national team, but on building football from the grassroots up. Developing a plan for a country I’ve never set foot in has been one of the toughest challenges of my career—but also one of the most rewarding.

By combining extensive research with my experience in football development, I believe we’ve shaped a vision that can truly transform the sport on the island.

What’s Next?

I can’t reveal the full plan just yet, but one initiative featured in the iGol article is the “1 Child, 1 Ball” campaign—a project to provide all 4,000 children on the island with a football and access to a grassroots curriculum. Delivered in schools by local coaches, this program aims to inspire a love of the game, encourage healthier lifestyles, and build the foundation for future generations of players.

More details will be announced later this year as we roll out the full development strategy. For now, I can say this: the dream of seeing Nauru take the field in its first international match is very much alive.

You can help support our journey and grab your own piece of history by purchasing one of our shirts.

Click here.

#coachcpomroy

#bebold #bebrave #believeinyourself

#nauru #coaching

#davekitson #youngpioneertours #giordano #sweeperpod