Girls football development in Port Vila has received a VT1.6 million boost after Australian club Avalon FC donated funding to the Port Vila Football Association (PVFA).

The donation was presented at VFF Freshwater Stadium during Avalon FC’s visit to Vanuatu, where the club’s Under-16 girls team has been playing a series of friendly matches against local women’s teams.

Avalon FC representative Stuart Bensley said the donation will help grow girls and women’s football in Port Vila and across Vanuatu.

“This donation is to help the development of girls’ and women’s football in Port Vila and Vanuatu.”

PVFA President Atisson thanked Avalon FC for the support and said the association would ensure the funding is used to strengthen girls football.

“A big thank you for coming and thank you for the donation. We will provide a report on how this funding is used to develop football here in Port Vila.”

He said the association will use the funding to expand its women’s football development programme and prepare an Under-16 girls team to travel to Australia next year as part of an exchange programme between Avalon FC and PVFA.

Since arriving in Vanuatu last weekend, Avalon FC’s Under-16 girls have played friendly matches against Shepherds United FC, Galaxy FC and Tafea Women’s FC as part of the football exchange initiative.