Courtesy: Australian Football Federation Web Site


Indigenous Football Program off to a flying start

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

The first of the Football Federation Australia Indigenous Football Development Program visits, have been held over the past week in Moree, NSW and Launceston/Hobart in Tasmania and haven proven to be a huge success.

The new initiative by the FFA to steer more indigenous players towards a career in football, kicked off in Moree where over 100 players came along, while the Launceston/Hobart events saw a number of trialists attend for selection in the Indigenous Football Festival tournament that will be held in Townsville later this year.

Darrel Smith, Coach for the NSW U/16 girls’ regional team was accompanied by Indigenous Football Program Mentors, Westfield Matilda and Central Coast Mariners W-League star Kyah Simon and Qantas Futsalroos captain Lachlan Wright.

The visit was not only a participation day for children in and around Moree, but also coincided a trial for the NSW U/16 girls’ regional team. Players from Mungindi, Walgett, Tamworth and Armidale were all involved and the response received in these communities was very positive.

The day included a visit to the Moree East Public School, where Kyah and Lachlan took several skills and drills session with the Year 5 and 6 classes. It’s fair to say that everyone one of the kids that participated in the session were very excited and eager to learn from the two players. As well, the pair gave out McDonald’s vouchers and signed loads of autographs for the kids.

It was then time for the Pre-Schooler’s, who were all just as keen, with one 4-year-old showing he is a talent for the future, with terrific control of the ball for one so young.

After the school visit, the actual participation visit was conducted at Ron Harbourne Oval in Moree. By 4.30pm the number of kids in attendance was over 100, with the NSW U16 girls regional team trialists taken to a different area by Darrel, while Kyah and Lachlan did their best to keep the excited kids occupied on five small-sided fields.

For the trialists, a trip to Townsville later this year to participate in the inaugural Indigenous Football Festival is on offer, so the battle for places was intense.

The day ended with a sausage sizzle and Lachlan and Kyah chatted and signed more autographs.

The FFA would like to thank Darrel, Lachlan, Kyah, Barbara Beady for Moree East PS, Nikki from Moree Football Club and Moree Council for use of some extra lighting. The response and numbers that attended exceeded all expectations and the support and comments from everyone had been very positive in relation to the Indigenous Football Development Program.

Meanwhile in Tasmania, over 30 children were involved in a Indigenous Football Festival participation session on Sunday 17 May in Launceston and Hobart. These sessions were coordinated and conducted by Football Federation Tasmania Game Development Staff.

Indigenous Football Development Program ambassador John Moriarty and coach mentor Fox Sports Football Analyst Andy Harper were in attendance at these sessions and passed on many useful tips to the children. The children ranged from those who played club football in Tasmania to those experiencing football for the first time.

Of special note was the effort that many parents, teachers and children made to travel to the sessions from outside Hobart and Launceston. In particular two young children who travelled to Launceston by charter flight from Cape Barren accompanied by their teacher to take part in the day.

Andy Harper said, "Having seen some of these kids today, the Socceroos and Matildas teams and the FFA elite pathway would benefit greatly in the future, if football could make a meaningful inroad into Indigenous communities."

Townsville here we come !!!!!!!!







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com