Nauru has tried to develop football previously, but it has never really taken off. Nauru, which was a dependent territory of Australia until independence in 1968, was heavily mined in the late 20th Century. "They [Nauru] want people to see the country in a more positive light rather than the punchline of a joke. "But being a football lover, the best way I know how to have an impact is through football." One of the first challenges in Nauru is getting some footballs on to the island.