Elsewhere In Football #29
Naoero Project Gaining Momentum
It's a defining year for the Naoero Project.
At the start of the year, I made a decision. If we weren't going to see meaningful progress, I would step away. Watching a project with so much potential move at a snail's pace had become incredibly frustrating.
But things are changing.
I've put together a fantastic team and, throughout this year, we've started to see genuine progress. From recent features on the BBC to radio interviews, new partnerships and the development of our first programs, the project is finally starting to gather momentum.
There is still a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, it feels like we're heading in the right direction.
Tyler Dibling signing our official Naoero shirt with Stingz founder Ernest (legend).
One Child One Ball Launched.....
The Nauru Soccer Federation is proud to present our '1 Child • 1 Ball' campaign.
The first part of our plan to develop football on the island is simple. We want to deliver a football to every child aged between 4 and 14 this year.
We believe in building a football culture from the ground up. Giving every child access to a football is the first giant step towards achieving that goal.
You can get involved by buying one football for a child on the island. Alternatively, you can buy the official Nauru home kit and we will send a football in your name. We also have a corporate package available for businesses who want to support the project.
Every penny raised will go towards providing footballs to children across the island and helping us deliver a coach education program in December this year.
This is about much more than footballs. It's about giving children an opportunity, creating a love for the game and laying the foundations for the future of football in Nauru.
To get involved and support please click the link 👇
BBC feature opens doors.....
Post World Cup, the world was captivated by the underdog stories, with Cape Verde being one of the great examples.
Naoero might just be the greatest underdog story in the history of football if we can make it happen.
The BBC article can be found below 👇
The article gave us worldwide exposure and, more importantly, brought a number of really interesting and passionate people forward who want to help the cause.
It seems that every day the project team is getting stronger. New conversations are taking place, new opportunities are appearing and we're genuinely starting to make big steps forward.
There were also two radio interviews that can be found on our Instagram page.
The Next Eight Months Are Critical.....
From now until April 2027, the project will enter its most critical phase yet.
From a corporate standpoint, completing the necessary registrations and finalising the company structure is essential. Our team has worked tirelessly on the research and development side to find the most effective way for us to operate, and we believe we have found it.
Now it's about turning that plan into reality.
Watch this space as we continue to grow.
The fundraising campaigns are well underway and moving along nicely. In a dream scenario, if every deal we are currently negotiating came through, we could be close to £50k by the end of the year.
Realistically, we're looking closer to £10k.
But £10k would still be enough to continue developing our programs, and that's what matters most. Every step forward gives us the opportunity to take another one.
On the field, we have a team heading to the island later this year to carry out reconnaissance and continue building our network.
The big goal is to host the first national training camp in March 2027.
That will be a huge milestone for the project.
On a personal note....
From a personal standpoint, my recent car accident has understandably made this a difficult period for me as I prepare for my hopefully final surgery and another period of recovery in November.
My team here in India have been magnificent, and projects like the Naoero Project and my work with Sahayak have helped keep my mind busy and given me something positive to focus on.
Although I can't currently be on the field, staying actively involved in the development, planning and structures behind the projects has been incredibly important to me.
Sometimes progress doesn't look like being on a football pitch.
Sometimes it's the conversations, the planning, the fundraising, the problem solving and the people you surround yourself with that move a project forward.
And right now, there is a lot happening behind the scenes.
I couldn't have got through the last two months without my wife and kids.
My wife has been nothing short of amazing. She reminds me every single day just how lucky I am to still be here and how lucky I am to have her and our boys beside me.
There is still a huge amount of work to do with the Naoero Project.
But I believe in the team.
I believe in the vision.
And I believe in what football can do for a small island with a big dream.
The next eight months could change everything.
Let's see how far we can take it.
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