Football Federation Australia (FFA) today helped launch the inaugural National Indigenous Football Championships to be held in NSW’s Shoalhaven from 3 – 5 November.
The first fully national event will bring together Indigenous teams from across Australia and New Zealand to compete for the coveted prize of national football champions.
“Today marks a special milestone in Australian Football,” said David Gallop, FFA CEO.
“The National Indigenous Football Championships will bring together men’s and women’s teams from across New South Wales, Queensland, New Zealand, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
“It is appropriate that the first event of this kind will be a ‘grass roots’ event – hosted by a local Community for the broader Community”.
“FFA is proud to support this premier grassroots Indigenous football event”.
“The history of the game in Australia is punctuated with stories of great players scouted from similar competitions that then go on to represent Australia and hopefully we may identify future Matildas and Socceroos from this tournament,” concluded Gallop.
Australian Indigenous football icons Harry Williams and Karen Menzies were the first Indigenous representatives to play for the Socceroos and Matilda’s who said today’s launch is a significant milestone for Indigenous football in Australia.
Wreck Bay Sharks FC President and Tournament Director, Bernie McLeod said this event is an opportunity to bring the skills of Aboriginal players to national attention. “The event has received overwhelming support from the football fraternity, the corporate and government organisations involved and the Indigenous communities right across the nation”.
“It’s just fantastic that the Championships will attract up to 1000 participants and expects the event to double in the next few years”, said McLeod.
Jamie Warren, Johnny Warren Foundation Chairman said the Foundation “was honoured to work side-by-side with the Wreck Bay Sharks FC and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander football communities”.
“The people of the South Coast NSW should prepare for a very special week of football as the event will host the very first Johnny Warren Football Foundation Celebrity Match consisting of former football legends and Indigenous sporting icons in the spirit of Reconciliation” said Warren.
To name a few, Ambassadors placing their support for the event include Sydney FC and Matilda sensation Kyah Simon, Brisbane Roar star and former Socceroo – Jade North, former Socceroo and SBS Chief Football Analyst, Craig Foster and former National Soccer League champion and current Fox Sports commentator Andy Harper.
