from Dorothy
19 June, 2025
Vanuatu will be among 18 nations represented at the 6th edition of the Formation des Entraîneurs Francophones, with national volleyball coach Manuel Maki set to attend the prestigious training program in Ifrane, Morocco.
The program, organized annually by the Association Francophone des Comités Nationaux Olympiques (AFCNO), brings together high-level French-speaking coaches from across the globe for a week of intensive learning, collaboration and skill-building.
It will take place from June 22 to 28 at the Université Al Akhawayn, a renowned English-language institution nestled in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains.
Coach Maki will depart Port Vila later this week, marking his first trip to North Africa.
Maki expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying he hopes to return with a wealth of new knowledge and skills to help develop volleyball in Vanuatu and support his coaching career.
“I’m truly honoured to be representing Vanuatu and the Pacific, and I look forward to this incredible learning experience,” said Maki.
The week-long program will cover key topics such as physical and mental preparation, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and sports nutrition. Participants will learn from a panel of experts including researchers, PhD candidates, experienced coaches, and former elite athletes. Practical field visits to sports facilities are also part of the curriculum.
Nations participating include Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Seychelles, Senegal, Haiti, Gabon, Canada, Guinea-Bissau, Burundi, and Rwanda, with disciplines ranging from taekwondo and athletics to tennis, fencing, surfing and basketball.
Coach Maki is the sole Pacific Islander in the cohort, and notably one of only two volleyball coaches, the other being Coach Yvette Igihozo Cyuzuzo from Rwanda.
His participation marks a significant milestone for Vanuatu sports, highlighting the country’s growing presence on the international coaching stage.
