BASS HILL BOYS BROKEN BUT NOT BURIED
By Rory Hill
The Bass Hill RSL SC has taken the trip down the federal highway for their first ever
McDonalds Kanga Cup. The club who play in the Bankstown District Amateur
Football Association has been pleased with the general running of the tournament
besides their early departure. Finishing third in their pool they just missed out on
semi final berth in their first year at the Cup. An outstanding effort considering they
were not going to even come because of financial reasons.
The McDonalds Kanga Cup is a big commitment for two hundred and twenty teams,
with accommodation and transport being two of the most financially straining
components. Jimmy Talevski, Coach of the only team’s entry to the tournament the
U/18s Boys side said costs were the only thing holding the team back.
“Getting hotels, a bus and the boys kitted up was expensive but they have learnt
many things from the tournament,: Talevski said. The team is disappointed that they
missed out on the semis but are highly considering bringing a team back next year.
“The club will be looking at bringing a younger side up next year but costs will be a
factor” said Talevski.
TWO MARATHON GAMES FOR THE BULLEEN LIONS
By Ben Kruzins
It was a hard day at the office for the Bulleen Lions Under-12 boy’s cup team today,
but when the going gets tough the tough get tougher.
The Lions were due to play Singkok PS at 1pm on the Thursday of the McDonalds
Kanga Cup, but due to a last minute fixture change, the Lions will play two matches
in two hours, the first one at 9:30am against the champion junior team of Korea. The
second one at 11:00pm, a Victorian derby against Sandringham.
Bulleen Lions Coach Steve Zafiriou says the team has to deal with the adversity and
play what’s in front of them.
“We have prepared as best as we can, we are very proud of the boys and hopefully
we can get a win today,” said Mr Zafiriou.
But for now Bulleen can only worry about what’s in front of them. Zafiriou said the
boys got plenty of rest yesterday.
“There was plenty of rest and relaxation, we took the boys for an ice cream and a
walk, to get them geed up,” said Mr Zafiriou.
During Bulleen’s first match against Singok, the side went down 3-1.
The second match a clearly fatigued Bulleen were unable match it with Sandringham
going down 2-1. Sandringham will also play two matches in a row today when they
meet Singkok PS after their match against Bulleen.
Despite a marathon two hours for the 11-year-old boys from Melbourne, Lions
Captain Cameron McKillop praised the efforts of his team mates and commented on
how he was after the game.
“I am stuffed and tired,” said McKillop.
REFEREE COACH HELPING MATCH OFFICIALS IMPROVE
By Dean Benson
McDonald’s Kanga Cup refereeing coach, Wayne Stapley says that the refereeing
program has achieved its goal this week by helping each match official to improve
their on-field performance.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty good,” Stapley said. “At the beginning we have an aim for
them to improve throughout the week and just about all of them have done that.”
Stapley is a FIFA refereeing coach from Christchurch, New Zealand, however he isn’t
the only Kiwi referee in Canberra this week for the Kanga Cup.
A number of New Zealand Football match officials have made the journey across
with Stapley and he said that it’s good for them to gain overseas experience.
“Some of them do have experience with referees from different countries, but this is
more of an experience thing for them, as well as getting coached every day,” he said.
“They live, sleep and eat everything football for the whole week and it has got to be
good when they’re with each other talking about the games.”
Stapley explained that there are a number of things referee coaches look for during a
match and referees are critiqued both at half-time and full-time.
“We look for control of the match and communication, which is a big thing, but also
good positioning so they can get the decisions right,” he said.
Despite the fact that he has come here to give advice, Stapley admits that there are
few things he has picked up from Australian referees that he can take back to New
Zealand.
“You have a lot of young referees here and they are pretty good,” he said. “They’re
also confident guys, which is important because they need that confidence to get the
decisions right and control the game easier.”
“I’ve given some of the local refs come coaching points and that learning is what it’s
all about.”
WODEN VALLEY UNITED AND NORTHBRIDGE FC SET UP GRAND FINAL
SHOWDOWN
By Andrew Johnston
Interstate rivalry will be on show at the AIS tomorrow when local club Woden Valley
United takes on Sydney side Northbridge FC in the final of the under-12 girl’s cup.
It will be Woden’s second consecutive grand final appearance in the division after
going down on penalties to Brindabella last year.
Both sides notched up back-to-back wins at Wanniassa yesterday to advance to the
decider with Woden defeating STFA 4-1 and Gungahlin United 2-0.
Northbridge disposed of Concord SC 4-0 before overcoming Maccabi Dragons 1-0 in
a tense elimination final.
Coach Neil Muston said Northbridge will take plenty of self-belief into the game
against Woden after a strong showing throughout the group stages.
“The girls really dug deep against some excellent opposition today, as they have all
tournament up until now so we’re very confident,” Muston said.
“We were undefeated in the Ku-ring-gai competition in Sydney leading into the
Kanga Cup and I don’t think I’ve seen the team play this well in a long time.”
In what was a closely fought affair between the two Sydney based clubs, it took one
of the goals of the tournament from Natasha Reiss to break the match open.
With the game locked at 0-0, Reiss managed to break from deep inside her own half,
beating three defenders before putting a great finish past the Maccabi keeper.
Meanwhile, Woden had Sophia Adams to thank for its progression to the final after
she bagged both of her side’s goals in its qualifying match against Gungahlin.
Adams’ first of the afternoon came after she managed to volley home a dangerous
cross into the box from Amelia Turner before she completed her double from the
penalty spot in the second-half.
Woden manager Scott Turner said that while his side had been playing well so far in
the tournament, there was little separating the two finalists.
“We haven’t played Northbridge before but we’ve seen a little bit of them play and I
imagine it’s going to be very close,” Turner said.
“I’d say we’ll have to turn up and play very well or we won’t have much of a chance
but we’ve got a strong team across the board so we’ll see what happens.”
MAJURA THUNDER DEF WODEN VALLEY WHITE SPURS 3-0
By Andrew Johnston
The Majura Thunder put the disappointment of missing out on the qualifying finals
behind them yesterday with a 3-0 win over Woden Valley White Spurs at Wanniassa.
Majura won two of its three group games and finished in equal first in a three-way
tie at the top of its pool but was forced out of finals contention on goal difference.
The Thunder’s win came on the back of goals to Sophie Maeken and Jodie Kirkness
while Woden also gave up an own goal midway in the second-half.
Majura coach Stephen Spence said that while it was great to get a win, his side was
not at its best.
“I think the first-half was a bit slow, we had a fantastic game [on Wednesday] against
Northbridge which we won and I think after that we were a bit flat,” Spence said.
After missing out on the finals it was a bit hard for the girls to lift knowing that the
result didn’t really matter but they still went out to have fun.”
KANGA CUP BRINGS OUT YOUTH SPIRIT
By Alex Belperio
It wasn’t Spain versus Germany but today’s semi-final between the Gungahlin Cobras
and Monaro Panthers had it all, including an incredible playing spirit passed down by
the opposing coaches.
The Under 11 shield match was thrilling for all present, with the Panthers’ Harry
Cross snatching a 1-0 win early in extra-time after the game finished scoreless.
Just like in South Africa overnight, there were near misses at both ends, screaming
fans, emotionally-charged players and stressed coaches, but nobody lost their cool
and at the final whistle there were smiles all around.
“It’s played really friendly, everyone’s been great and just the whole spirit of the
week to play a lot of games, it’s made all my players a lot better,” said Gungahlin
coach, Glen Hampson.
Despite narrowly missing the final in their first McDonald’s Kanga Cup, the Cobras’
spirits were high after the game.
“They’ve played above themselves and they’re all smiling, they’re all good,” he said.
“We’ll give it another run next year; this is our first year and was an eye-opening
experience.” The Panthers’ late-win takes them through to the final undefeated and
yet to concede a goal and they now face the Belsouth Allstars at the University of
Canberra in Friday’s final.
Panthers’ coach, Parry Pichelmann, praised the McDonald’s Kanga Cup as a learning
experience for his side, which has struggled in its regular season competition.
“We’ve struggled and grown through our season competition and it’s just coming
together nicely now, so I’m really proud of them,” Pichelmann said. “As the week
goes and it gets tougher, their confidence grows and their skills grow, it’s a really
good tournament for that.”
Pichelmann was most proud of the way in which his team was a gracious winner,
with both sides exchanging the remainder of half-time lollies and chocolates at the
end of the game.
“I’ve got a team that’s blessed with really nice boys, but I must say the other team
have been great,” he said. “They know to take the tournament seriously but not to
get niggly and we have a lot of joking on the sidelines between coaches.”
Both teams were terrific and either side could have made the final in what was a
thrilling game filled with screaming parents and coaches positively supporting all the
kids from the sidelines.