(CricketEurope) Vanuatu has a fantastic development program. The participation rates are going up all the time and good players are being produced every year it seems. You've done a phenomenal job to bring the playing numbers up from 420 in 2000 up to 12,333 in 2008. In which year did you decide, okay, it's time to really start up a serious junior program in Vanuatu?

(Pierre Chilia)The program started way back in 2001 and when you look back you can see the achievements that we have made and all the hard work has paid off I may say.

(CricketEurope) And what kind of initiatives did you implement to kick start the program?

(Pierre Chilia)We started from the grass roots and I mean by saying the primary school kids. We ran school visit programs, ran basic cricket coaching for teachers (Teacher in-service Training), cricket carnivals for kids, create competition between schools and ran school holiday programs for kids.

(Cricket Europe) Cricket wasn't very well known in Vanuatu before the program started so how did the kids react to the sport in the initial stages?

(Pierre Chilia) Like any other kids, they tend to try new things and cricket was something new to them. They showed interest in the sport and some of them became better cricketers in the country.

(CricketEurope) Although the program is still quite new, it has produced some very promising players such as Andrew Mansale, Jono Dunn, Frederick Timakata and more recently Simpson Obed, Trevor Langa, Lazaro Carlot, Kenny Tari and Patrick Matautaava but are you confident that the program will continue to produce players well into the future?

(Pierre Chilia) I think the future is bright for Vanuatu Cricket.

(CricketEurope) So there are some very good 13-17 year olds continuing to come through?

(Pierre Chilia) We always encourage kids coming through that there is a pathway where you can compete in different categories of regional and international tournaments and the pathway is there. Kids are encouraged to work hard when they compete in club games and some have gone on to become better cricketers.

(CricketEurope) Along with yourself of course, who are some of the other people who have played a big part in growing cricket in Vanuatu?

(Pierre Chilia) There is quite a few but to mention a few: Mark Stafford, President is the corner stone of the VCA, Patrick Haines is a close friend of mine and we worked together in bringing up young kids like Andrew Mansale and the others you mentioned earlier on. Garry Blake is a strong supporter of the cricket development program and there are a few others whom I don't mention but the are strong supporters of our cricket development program.

(CricketEurope) So on to the recent Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers in Canada. The boys were performing well I thought until the final two games. How did you assess the performance of the team?

(CricketEurope)The national side delivered the goods for you in the EAP Trophy Qualifier in Samoa last month. It's a really good young group with just the right amount of experience?

(Pierre Chilia)It was good to have the young and the experienced players in the squad and this makes Andrew Mansale's (captain) job a lot easier.

(CricketEurope) That was a special moment when Simpson Obed scored that 108 against Samoa and then Andrew Mansale with 115 against Tonga and 128 versus Samoa?

(Pierre Chilia) We have a few players who have scored a few half centuries but got out on 70's and 80's but I guess Simpson who made 100 against Canada has built up his confidence since then and went on to score his century against Samoa. That didn't came by accident but with the confidence he had in himself. Andrew, on the other hand, I think is the best player in the region and he had proved to everyone what he is capable of and he batted with responsibility as captain that shows what a character he is.

(CricketEurope) I might be wrong but I think they were the first centuries scored by Vanuatu players at senior international level. Can you remember if someone had scored one before? Perhaps in the South Pacific Games or in a friendly international?

(Pierre Chilia) Like i said we have a few players who have scored a few half centuries but got out on 70's and 80's.

(CricketEurope) The great thing is about the current squad is that there is so much upside, so much potential for improvement. These guys are mainly 23 and under and will surely get better still? What we are seeing now is not the finished product?

(Pierre Chilia) Our players are improving in every area of cricket. The most important thing that makes them better at this time is their approach to the game and the mental toughness and that's what makes them keep improving.

(CricketEurope) With the recent EAP Trophy and U/19 Qualifiers, we are becoming quite familiar with the Vanuatu players but one name that is relatively new to the side is Damien Smith. Can you tell us a little bit about him?

(Pierre Chilia) Having Damien in the side has brought a lot of depth to the batting recently. His contribution to the side has generated a lot of enthusiasm to the young players.

(CricketEurope) What about you. You're playing well enough to keep going until you are 50 right?

(Pierre Chilia) Will see how my body goes mate!

(CricketEurope) With the game growing all the time, do you have enough facilities and grounds to cope or is there a need to build more?

(Pierre Chilia) At the moment yes but we are planning to build more facilities in the near future especially now that we're an Associate Member of the ICC.

(CricketEurope) How many cricket grounds are there in Vanuatu?

(Pierre Chilia) 6 grounds at the moment with 10 others where we use for primary school comps and Traditional Cricket comps.

(CricketEurope) Do you see the need for a turf pitch in the future?

(Pierre Chilia) We would love to have one but it takes up a lot of work and from what I know it might not be best with our climate.

(CricketEurope) Can you tell us about the domestic competition in Vanuatu? How many teams are there and are they all located in Port Vila?

(Pierre Chilia) We have more than 16 teams in local comp and corporate league. We also have our junior comps and all the teams are located in Vila. We have an outreach program in place at the moment to reach out to the islands.

(CricketEurope) How do players from outlying areas become involved in the domestic competition? Is there a pathway for them to play alongside the best in the country or to try out for national junior squads?

(Pierre Chilia) Not at this time but most of the players that are playing cricket are mostly from the islands who are living in Vila. We do not want top rush things as we prefer to work slowly and it progresses.

(CricketEurope)Finally, what are the three most important things Vanuatu cricket needs to do to really challenge the world's best teams in the next 5-7 years?

(Pierre Chilia) Play more competitive cricket in regional/global tournaments, continue improving the playing skills and learn from others.

Thank you for the interview Pierre and good luck in the future. We will be following cricket in Vanuatu with great interest.