TWELVE months ago, two Australian Indigenous representative teams consisting of 18 men and 18 women players travelled to New Zealand, Auckland on a football tour.
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Following the development and implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between First Nation people of Australia and New Zealand Maori, this first tour of its kind happened – creating the Clash of Cultures Trans-Tasman Football Series.
On the back of this successful history-making event, the second tour of its kind will kick-off later this week, this time held on Australian soil at Albert Butler Memorial Field, Kemblawarra.
This year will also see the inclusion of an inaugural under 14s boys and girls teams participating in the event.
During this year’s series, the Shoalhaven will be represented by nine men, seven women, three boys and seven girls.
The Wreck Bay Sharks, who were instrumental in the design, development and delivery of the inaugural event, will once again host this historical event.
“The Trans-Tasman Football Series is both sensational and unique event – the first of its kind between first nation participants of both Australia and New Zealand,” tournament director Bernie McLeod said.
“Bringing together both male and female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players together from across the nation in a single competition the Trans-Tasman Football Series is very exciting.”
This year will see some changes to the fixtures; the Mariya under 14 girls’ will be up against the Illawarra United Stingrays and Newcastle Allstars, both formidable teams in their respective competitions, while the Mariya open women’s and under 14 boys’ will face the New Zealand Maoris.
McLeod is buzzing Jade North, the first Indigenous player to captain the Socceroos, will lead the Mariya open men’s team for two matches.
“When I asked Jade if he would coach the men’s team, he jumped at the chance and said he would be absolutely honoured,” McLeod said.
“This is a career he wants to get into – he held a coaching clinic at the 2018 National Indigenous Football Championships, where more than 130 kids participated in his Kickin' with a Cuz program.”
This program was a highlight of the recent tournament held in South Nowra in November 2018 and of which McLeod is an avid supporter of, due to its focus of engaging Indigenous youth in the sport of football.
Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop welcomed the event.
“Football Federation Australia (FFA) applauds this initiative and is keen to continue to support Indigenous football in Australia,” Gallop said.
“On behalf of the Australian Football community, I would like to wish all the players, match officials, volunteers and the organisers a very enjoyable and successful tournament.”
Former Socceroo Luke Wilshire will also be attending and supporting the Trans-Tasman series.
“I’m looking forward to taking on my former teammate Jade North and further developing the relationship the Wollongong Wolves FC have with the National Indigenous Football Championships,” Wilshere said.
“The NIFC and the Wolves have been working really well together in the past and we are looking to build on that in the future.
“Now with this opportunity for a friendly game, it’s a great starter for us to get the year under way and play our first friendly game in pre-season at our training base, which is also Indigenous land – it goes hand in hand in this region.”
The Mariya open men’s team will playing against African Nations Sports Association (ANSA) on Saturday, January 19 at Albert Butler Memorial Oval, Kemblawarra, this will see yet another exchange of culture and football talent as part of this year’s clash.
Bernard Muchemwa, president of ANSA, is relishing the upcoming fixture against the Emus and his association that is made up of 16 African countries.
“We are excited about this game,” Muchemwa said.
“We have quite an exciting and talented group of players in our team, a number of them play competitive football at the NPL level.
“Some of the players were born here, some come as kids with their parents as refugees.
“It’s an opportunity that we have been looking for years.
“We are trying to have a network of like-minded people of multicultural sections of the Australian community to be together as one.”
All games will be played at Albert Butler Memorial Oval, Kemblawarra on Saturday, January 19 and Cringila Oval on Sunday, January 20.