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Army
soccer players are getting ready to show their skills in
the national carnival, held in Sydney this month
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World
game rebuilds
By
Michael Weaver
SOCCER in the Army is looking to re-establish itself as one of the
powerhouse sports in the ADF, with a new committee aiming high for
this year's national interservice championships.
The
national ADF titles will be held at Randwick Barracks from November
3-7, with Army trials to be held from October 27-31.
Players
for men's, women's and masters (over-30s) teams are required, as
are coaches, managers, strappers and referees.
The
masters competition is a six-a-side event, with this year being
the first it has been introduced.
Australian
Army Soccer Football Association (AASFA) committee member WO2 Steve
McNaughton says it is no surprise to see soccer in the ADF reflecting
the same status it is held in the wider community, where Australian
rules and the rugby codes are in good health while soccer seems
to take a back seat.
"There
are probably numerous reasons for this, none of which includes the
debacle with the Australian soccer's governing body, Soccer Australia,"
he said.
Army
Soccer was established in the early 1970s to play games between
the three services and State Police forces and has enjoyed games
against visiting foreign soccer teams, civilian representative state
teams and the Marconi Stallions from the National Soccer League.
AASFA
was formed in the early 1990s and has since enjoyed good and endured
sub-standard years.
"Enough
is enough was the cry and very much like Soccer Australia, a clean-up
was necessary for Army soccer," he said.
"Army
soccer has never achieved its potential, but with the introduction
of the passionate new committee the tide is about to change and
Army soccer will be on the rise to becoming one of the powerhouse
sports within the ADF."
The
2003 AASFA committee has recently formed, utilising soccer followers,
former and current players, coaches and referees.
What
can you do:
- Contact
your local Army soccer representative and make yourself known
to them.
- Register
as a member of AASFA on-line using registration forms located
on the new website:
http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/AASFA/
- Foster
soccer in your unit, including it in PT sessions, encouraging
new and existing members of the unit to get involved.
- Assist
brigade and area soccer representative to arrange games and conduct
training with the aim of developing the standard of those in your
area.
- Get
involved with interservice soccer and the Army soccer teams.
RE
to kick-off carnival
By
Cpl Belinda Mepham
BREAK OUT the pompoms and whistles, the Royal Engineers (RE) are
coming to play soccer against our best Army, Navy and RAAF teams
at the end of this month in Sydney.
The
RE touring soccer team will play friendly matches and trial games
to warm up the ADF's national teams for the upcoming National
Soccer Carnival.
The
schedule of games has one new inclusion - a game against civilian
female team, the North Epping Rangers.
A
new community shield has been struck and will be awarded in this
competition and in the future.
Sponsorship
and Media Liaison officer for the Australian Army Soccer Football
Association (AASFA) WO2 Steve McNaughton said the game with the
Rangers was new to Army soccer.
"This
is a great chance for Army soccer to get out in the public eye
and demonstrate that there is more to Defence than the public
may perceive," he said.
"This
is looking to be a big affair and both the AASFA and the Rangers
are excited about what it has to offer."
The
carnival kicks off at Steele Barracks, Moorebank, on Wednesday
October 29 at 11am, with a game between the AASFA Women's team
and the NSW Police women's team.
The
AASFA Men's team will take on the RE touring side at 1pm.
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