Key voices come out against Football NT’s running of NAFA

Conflict of interest accusations have been levelled against Football Northern Territory over the running of its elite academy pathway. Read what has been said.

Voices in the Northern Territory football community are in uproar over the perceived conflict of interest between the peak body and the running of its academy program.

The Northern Australia Football Academy is a revised program from what was known as the National Training Centre, a part time training program.

NAFA is a more intensive program requiring the full commitment of players, comprising a minimum of three days training each week.

Players selected to play for NAFA are seen as the most elite in their age group, and are required to play for the team in the local competition to encourage team gelling under accredited coaches.

However, perceived lack of communication or transparency on the running of the academy has caught the ire of some key voices in the sporting community.

Kids enrolled in NAFA are no longer able to participate in their family club activities or in training camps outside the academy curriculum.

There has been an uproar against the running of NAFA.

One of the major issues, however, is that NAFA is run by the same people as the peak body, despite having a place in the local club competition.

A senior committee member of a local club said their biggest concern was not the NAFA curriculum itself, which they called a “great program”, but claimed there was a conflict of interest due to FNT staff administering the academy.

“It’s a conflict of interest when you’ve got the management team for the federation – who are responsible for running local competitions – also running a club that participates in those same competitions,” they said.

“As clubs, we report indiscretions or misconduct to FNT when a club does something wrong on game day for instance.

“The problem is, when NAFA do something wrong, we’re reporting their indiscretions to FNT and NAFA, because it’s the same people who operate both.”

The member claimed FNT staff were failing their duties due to their NAFA commitments.

“Are they doing their due diligence? Have they got enough time to do the work they’re doing?” they said.

“We make requests for them to assess our kids at training so they can be certified to play up an age group, and (FNT) consistently fail to do so because our training (times) conflicts with theirs.

“Yet NAFA kids have all been assessed as necessary – again, conflict of interest.”

Northern Australia Football Academy getting ready to train.

However, in a statement, Football NT said it had undergone extensive consultation with clubs ahead of the formation of NAFA.

“This program will ensure footballers across the Northern Territory are exposed to the best available coaches to help develop their football,” the statement read.

“In developing the new program, Football Northern Territory has undertaken significant consultation with the 11 Darwin based clubs.

“Importantly, players who do not participate in the program are not excluded from participating in the National Youth Championships.

“Trials, which are held in Darwin and Alice Springs, are open for all boys and girls across the Territory.”

A local coach said the conflict of interest trickled down into junior match days, saying referees had been prioritized for NAFA games over club fixtures.

“There’s been match days (against NAFA) where no referee has been scheduled for the game and suddenly the referee rocks up,” they said.

“They’ve abandoned the club game next door, which they’ve been assigned to, in favour of the NAFA game because they’ve been instructed to – why?”

NAFA players warming up for training.

Meanwhile, NAFA parents have come out in the support of the program calling it one of the best developments in the NT sporting landscape.

“As a parent, I just want what’s best for my kids, and currently, the clubs are not offering anything near the level that I have seen with NAFA,” one said.

“Most clubs don’t even have a development plan for the kids, and most coaches, like myself, are volunteers who have stepped in because their child’s team didn’t have a coach.”

A former FNT coach said the lack of coaching accreditation courses in the NT created a larger divide between NAFA and the clubs.

It means players have to either pay larger fees to access the best available resources, including training at a government facility in Mararra, or stay at their home club.

“It shows a lack of respect for the game. They want to hold the majority share because the NAFA program wants to show it has the best system and best coaches,” the coach said.

“Upskilling of local talent should be a priority, but the double handling makes it seem as if they are just benefitting this club.”

The NT News approached all 11 Darwin-based FNT clubs for further comment.