Historic OFC debut for Kiribati

Kiribati will take part in its first ever OFC Forum in Fiji later this month.

Kiribati won the very first futsal tournament on the Marshall Islands last year. Now they’re going to their very first OFC Forum. (Photo credit: KIFF)

The news was announced earlier this week in a press release, and is made possible by a partnership between the brands Young Pioneer Tours, Unchartered Football, Stingz, and Giordano.

They’ve sponsored the attendance of Eriati Reebo, Chairman of the Kiribati Island Football Federation, at the OFC Social Responsibility Forum, set to take place in Fiji from June 16th to 20th. This marks the first time the nation of Kiribati has taken part in an official event held by the Oceania Football Confederation, according to the press release.

The small island nation is currently an associate member of the Oceania Football Confederation, but are hoping for a full membership, and hopes that attending the Social Responsibility Form will help.

“Gaining OFC membership would be a huge opportunity for the people of Kiribati, so we are really grateful to Young Pioneer Tours and our other sponsors for their continued support,” KIFF Chairman Eriati Reebo said in the press release.

“Eriati is Kiribati football, he’s so passionate and does everything for no gain. We feel it will not just help him develop, but hopefully will help push the agenda for Kiribati getting into FIFA,” Young Pioneer Tours founder Gareth Johnson tells Football in Oceania.

The press release goes on:

“Held annually, the OFC Social Responsibility Forum is one of the most important gatherings in the region’s football calendar. It brings together member associations, non-profits, and development partners to discuss how football can be used as a vehicle for social change. Topics often include youth engagement, health, gender equality, climate resilience, and education.”

“For nations like Kiribati, the forum is about more than football. It’s about getting a seat at the table and demonstrating that the sport can contribute to national development goals. With Kiribati facing major challenges such as rising sea levels, limited infrastructure, and geographic isolation, football becomes a unifying tool for social cohesion and international visibility.”

YPT founder Johnson explains why this intiative is important:

“We have a long relationship with Kiribati through tourism and greatly care about the place. We feel that getting into the OFC and FIFA would not just benefit the community, but really put the country on the map.”

“We don’t want corporate social responsibility to just be a buzz word, we want to be able to actually get involved and help,” Johnson says.