The Johnny Warren Football Foundation are extremely proud to be in attendance at the 2019 Arafura Games in Darwin this week.
The foundation have been working closely with Football Northern Territory in the planning of the historic occasion of the first international tournament for the Australian Indigenous Koalas and the Australian Indigenousroos.
Mick Hugo (Indigenous Koalas coach), Jamie Warren, Samara Christmas (Koalas Co-Captain), Craig Foster, Jameekah Howard (Koalas Co-Captain) and Lawrence Gilbert at the Arafura Games.
Jamie Warren, nephew of Johnny Warren and Chair of the foundation said “we are deeply honoured to be in Darwin supporting our first nations peoples and the participation of the women’s and men’s indigenous national teams’ in the Arafura Games. Whilst this is an historic occasion, our work in indigenous football is only just beginning. We will work towards increasing indigenous participation as well as tapping the incredible amount of talent in and around indigenous communities. We wish all participants all the very best for an enjoyable experience at the games this week”.
Lawrence Gilbert, co-founder of the Australian Indigenous Football Championships says, “the indigenous community is grateful to have the Johnny Warren Football Foundation supporting indigenous football by providing guidance and support to enable the indigenous game meet its objectives. In particular I would like to pay tribute to the late Johnny Warren and the Warren Family for standing side-by-side with the indigenous communities right across the country”.
Lawrence Gilbert, Jamie Warren, Deegan Hunter (Indigeousroos Co-Captain), Keifer Dotti (Indigenousroos Co-Captain), Anthony Green (Indigenousroos player) and Craig Foster
Former Socceroos Captain and passionate indigenous football advocate Craig Foster said, “it’s a momentus occasion for anyone who believes in indigenous sport and indigenous self-determination and the right for indigenous children to have equality in opportunity the same as every other kid in the nation. The Arafura Games are a vitally important event, I’m a huge supporter and I’m delighted to see them back after so many years”.
The 2019 Arafura Games is scheduled to take place from the 26th of April at the Darwin Football Stadium Marrara Sporting Complex. Passionate football fans will marvel at the spectacle and grace of teams competing at the Darwin Football Stadium. The beautiful game is simple, exciting and is one of the world’s most popular sports and will feature the most countries out of all the sports at the games.
