FSM Football Association wins Australian Sports Grant
Press Release #0111-02
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
January 4, 2011

(Australian Embassy) - The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) has awarded the FSM Football Association a grant of $10,000 (AUD) to undertake a project called “FSM Grassroot Soccer Development Programme” with the latest round of ASOP funding.

This grassroots project will set up youth and adult soccer leagues in each of the four FSM states by July 2011.  The project has a plan to teach the sport of soccer at some of the elementary schools in each state so that youth leagues can be started.  The Association’s goal is to have at least four UEFA Level 1 qualified coaches present in each state by September 2010 and to have four state teams ready to compete in the next FSM Games, which will be held in Pohnpei in the summer of 2011. 

Another objective of the project, as stated in the grant report, is to increase the awareness of the need for health and physical education in the FSM.  In discussing the grant award, Mr. Steve Finnen, President of the FSM Soccer Association, said that, “Soccer is a great sport for the FSM.  The sport itself does not require huge size or specialized equipment.  The speed and agility of our athletes makes this sport a natural for this country and we are hoping to build up the sport here in the FSM, so that ultimately our athletes can play on the world stage.”