Socceroo coach Frank Farina will this week head for the Queensland outback to help promote ‘The World Game’ to several indigenous communities.
Socceroo coach Frank Farina will this week head for the Queensland outback to help promote ‘The World Game- to several indigenous communities.
The Outback Tours are organised by Soccer Queensland-s Development Manager for Remote, Isolated and Indigenous Communities Natalie Cardwell and is the second tour for 2004. Boulia and Dajarra in Queensland-s northwest are the first two stops on this tour.
Also joining Farina and Cardwell, will be Australian Soccer Association National Coaching & Development Manager Jim Selby plus Adelaide United star Fred Agius and Matildas hopeful and Queensland Sting striker Belinda Dawney.
This trip is special though Cardwell said, “during the first few days of the tour I get to take some very special people with me.
Selby nearly a veteran now of the outback tours is back for another look to see at the bush kids, and Agius will be welcomed back with opened arms after participating in a similar tour back in 2000.
“The kids still ask about him (Agius) each time I visit,” said Cardwell so it will be great to have him come back out and see how much they have improved. Belinda coming is a great asset for the girls, as they will be able to see a female national player up close,”
“Four girls from Dajarra have been selected in the district primary school girls soccer team, so hopefully she will be able to pass on some great tips.”
The biggest thrill for Natalie and the towns is the inclusion of Socceroos coach Frank Farina on the tour. Farina, exceptionally busy with the Socceroos and Under 23-s with upcoming internationals, has been able to free up his much valued time and head out west to see the kids. It-s hoped frank will be able to give an insight into playing soccer at a national level and tell the kids that if they are good at it and keep with it they too might make the Socceroos or Matildas teams one day.
Also travelling with the outback tour is Glen Brennan from the indigenous sports program with the Australian Sports Commission - Brennan will be able to view first hand the importance that sport (soccer in particular) is to remote communities.
Cardwell continues on tour to the western side of Cape York (Kowanyama & Pormpuraaw) the following week with Melinda Turner another representative from the Sports Commission and then heads for the savannah gulf country to Burketown.
Many of the players selected for the state outback development teams come from these areas and Cardwell will be delivering their training gear and individual training programs to each of the players and their mentors coaches.
