The Offsider - May

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Rocketing to Success

ffsider Capital Football’s Official Monthly Publication www.capitalfootball.com.au

Edition 2 May 2009

Upping the Ante

From Majura to Dubai

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Capital Football CEO

Heather Reid

General Manager Steven McIntyre

general@capitalfootball.com.au

Accounts

Martha Bennett accounts@capitalfootball.com.au

Technical Director

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Ian Shaw

technical@capitalfootball.com.au

Assistant Technical Director Pat McCann

coaching@capitalfootball.com.au

Development Coordinator Daniel Murphy

development@capitalfootball.com.au

Men’s League Manager Alasdair Grocock

mensleague@capitalfootball.com.au

Andrew Fitzpatrick

Junior League Manager Melanie Luksa

juniorleague@capitalfootball.com.au

Futsal League Manager David Lee

fulsalleague@capitalfootball.com.au

League Assistant Nicole Somi

futsaladmin@capitalfootball.com.au

Events Coordinator

12,000 junior footballers take to the fields around the region for the first round of the ActewAGL Junior League.

Women’s League Kicks Off

The fastest growing sport in the country kicks off for another year with a record number of women lining up on a weekly basis. Keep your eye out for the new 18’s competition.

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Women’s League Manager womensleague@capitalfootball.com.au

ActewAGL Junior League Kicks Off

Club Development Seminar Capital Football encourages every club to attend the first seminar focused on Volunteer Management at Canberra Boys Grammar School at 7:00pm. Visit www. capitalfootball.com.au for more information.

National Football Curriculum Forum

FFA Technical Director Han Berger will outline the new National Football Curriculum to all local coaches at the AIS Theatre from 5:30pm. Visit the website for more information.

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Grassroots Football Certificate - Cooma Be sure to register for the Grassroots Football Certificate in Cooma. The course will be held at Nijong Oval on Sunday. For more information on the Grassroots Coaching Certificate visit the Capital Football website.

Sarah Body

events@capitalfootball.com.au

Acting Referee Administrator Adam Castle

refadmin@capitalfootball.com.au

PR & Media Officer Chris Gottaas

media@capitalfootball.com.au

McDonald’s Kanga Cup Nominations Close Don’t forget to nominate your team for the 2009 McDonald’s Kanga Cup before today. With a number of international teams from across Asian already signed up, be sure not to miss out. www.kangacup.com for more information.

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Capital Football®

Unit 2/3 Phipps Close Deakin, ACT, 2600 PO Box 50 Curtin, ACT, 2605 [P] (02) 6260 4000 [F] (02) 6260 4999 Edited & Produced: Chris Gottaas Contributions: Russ Gibbs, Merryn Sherwood Pictures: Chris Gottaas, Football NSW

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Get Socceroo Mark Schwarzer to your school in June Win the once in a life time opportunity to get Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to your school. Check out the Capital Football for competition details.

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Advertising Options now available!

ffsider Capital Football’s Official Monthly Publication www.capitalfootb all.com.au

Edition 2 May 2009

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For more information regarding advertising in The Offsider or on www.capitalfootball.com.au please contact the General Manager.

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Upping the Ante

The regions only dedicated local football magazine is now offering advertising packages to suit all budgets.

Speak directly to the largest team sport in the ACT with approximately 50,000 involved in football - players, officials,, volunteers and spectators.

From Majura to Duba

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From the sideline...

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he first edition of The Offsider was a great success with more than 1050 hits on the magazine indicating solid readership from around the world including North America, Asia and of course Australia and our own members throughout Canberra and the region.

The May edition features plenty of news and articles including an update on the winter competitions, news about life and football in Dubai from a former Majura and Canberra City player, Ellie Weston, the ACT Young Rockets and much more.

As predicted, our registration numbers have grown with extra eight teams (over 120 players) in the women’s league and 20 teams across three new under 18 divisions.

We also have more teams in the men’s league which means we’re really stretched for grounds let alone referees. The junior league has started with full gusto and numbers have been maintained in most areas. Furthermore, our winter Futsal registrations have increased by 20% with over 370 new players. It seems these trends are not being experienced elsewhere with other State Federations reporting reductions in numbers.

This means collectively, our clubs and Capital Football can be pleased with the growth of our competitions.

The redevelopment and installation of lights at Hawker Enclosed football facility is also moving along quickly and we are on target to complete the project by the end of June so games should resume there in July. In the meantime, we’re working on a management plan for the facility including training and competition bookings, small-sided games, new users, costs, maintenance and other related things.

In the past month, we’ve successfully hosted the inaugural national junior championships with Meg McLaughlin from Woden being selected for a national under 14 training camp. We’ve also hosted Beijing Guoan FC under 20s who provided great competition for our Young Rockets and Canberra City lads. The Guoan FC is keen to enter into a formal arrangement that will see regular Football and Futsal team exchanges between our two sister cities.

This week we heard from FFA Technical Director, Han Berger on the way forward for technical development of players aged 6 to 19 with the release of a new national football skills curriculum. This provides a blueprint for the quality and style of Australian football for the future and aims to significantly improve our skill levels. This initiative plus other things that are happening in this area of player development will result in some small structural and operational changes with our technical and game development sections.

It’s hard to believe that the Kanga Cup will open in less than eight weeks with more international teams and the return of the highly-talented Singok PS boys from Korea. Check out the Kanga Cup website for all the details and stay tuned for news about a game between Central Coast Mariners and the ACT Rockets that will help to kick-start the tournament.

On a less positive note, the abuse of referees by players, coaches and spectators continues to disappoint us. Quite frankly, such inappropriate behaviour simply ruins the game and ruins the appeal of being a referee. We will not tolerate harassment of any kind and the harshest penalties under our disciplinary regulations will be imposed on people found responsible for abusing referees. I encourage everyone to adopt a zero tolerance position in this regard so we can make the whole sport more enjoyable for all.

Heather Reid Capital Football CEO

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Coaches Corner

This months activities are taken from a presentation at the recent FFA Capital Football Junior Licence course by Assistant Technical Director and Coach Instructor Pat McCann. All of these fun and fast moving game based exercises can be used to focus on attacking or defending and are suitable for players of all ages. - PART 1 ACTIVITY 1 Set Up: Exercise: 1 v 1 on three goals, 30 x 30 playing area 12 cones, 6 players, 2 goals, supply of balls Instructions: Players go 1 on 1 for 1 minute. Players in possession may attack any of the goals (1,2,3). On turnover of possession players immediately counterattack on opposition goal. Change opponents after 1 minute.

Progression: 1) After beating opponent and dribbling through small goal player may now shoot or take on goalkeeper positioned in large goals.

2)Remove small goals and play directly to large goals with keepers.

Coaching Points: Attacking Attack front foot of defender at speed. Change direction rapidly and add disguise to beat the defender.

Defending Slow the attacker down, force the attacker one way, only tackle when you are sure you can win the ball.

Be patient.

ACTIVITY 2 Set Up: Exercise: Continuous 3 x 1 v 1, 15 x 15 playing area 6 players, cones, supply of balls Instructions: Player 1 attempts to take on defender 1 (yellow). After beating the defender, dribble to number 2 who attempts to dribble the ball back across the grid to red number 3. Yellow 1 drops out of the game and yellow 2 may defend as soon as red 2 receives the ball. If defender wins the ball at any time, they automatically counter towards the opposite end. Game is continued until the ball goes out. Restart from the side the ball went out on.

Coaching Points: Be aware of the recovering defender, take the ball forward and into space with first touch, attack with pace, change direction and use dribbling moves if the defender recovers to a goal side position.

ACTIVITY 3 Set Up: Exercise: 2 v 2 with four Neutral Players, 30 x 30 playing area 8 players, 2 goalkeepers, 2 goals, supply of balls Instructions: 2v2 with four neutral supporting players (sides, forwards and backwards). Attacking team must play passes to one wide neutral player and the forward neutral player prior to scoring.

Coaching Points: Attacking Look forward early and often, support passes with well angled and timed runs, be patient and keep possession if nothing is on.

Defending Avoid being split by passes. Pressure together, don’t dive in but try to force the attackers to make mistakes, be patient, try to intercept passes and counter quickly.

ACTIVITY 4 Set Up: Exercise: 4 v 2 relay, 15 x 15 playing area 6 Players, 4 Cones, supply of balls Instructions: A ball is rolled into the area to start the exercise. Two defenders (yellow) run into the grid and attempt to steal the ball. When defenders steal the ball they must run back and tag hands of the next two defenders who try to win the next ball. A total of four balls are passed into the grid - teams switch roles after the fourth ball. Teams that execute the greatest number of passes for the four balls wins the game.

Coaching Points: Attacking Sharp accurate passing. Movement off the ball - angles, distance, etc to receive the pass. Accuracy and weight of passing. Communication at all times. Play must be at a fast pace Defending High pressure on ball, don’t get split by a pass, make play predictable, communicate

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he former defender played over 200 games in the NSL with the Melbourne Knights, Sydney Olympic and the Canberra Cosmos after learning his trade at arguably one of Australia’s best junior nurseries, Canberra FC.

“It’s the first 13’s team as well so it makes it extra special so it’s a great time in my coaching career.”

Despite the national team job, it’s only been recently that Juric has turned his hand to coaching after a successful local, national and international career as a player.

The local junior is best known for his heroic performance in the 2002 NSL Grand Final victory over Perth Glory. Playing for Sydney Olympic, Juric stayed on the pitch despite dislocating his elbow.

“It’s really only just starting.”

He believes the Canberra team would show the same fighting spirit.

be one of the most successful teams, we just need the chance.”

“I think we can get [a Hyundai A-League team in Canberra] and I think it would be huge,” Juric said.

Despite hanging up the boots with the Socceroos in 2002, Juric is still involved on the international stage.

Juric was named as the first-ever head coach of the Boys 13 National Team last month. He will go on his first-tour with the team in May to the AFC Festival of Football.

“I think people underestimate how big and important a team in Canberra would be and especially now in a climate where there’s so much television and media interest.”

“People still remember that but I think it will be huge and they would

“I’m very proud to have this opportunity,” Juric said of the appointment.

“I’ve done all the licenses and done a little bit of coaching with schools and juniors so it’s a good step at the moment and hopefully it can continue.”

“I only retired two years ago so it’s very minimal but I started coaching at Westfield Sports High School with the elite boys and girls there and then I got a job offer at Trinity Grammar where I’m now in charge of the football program.”

“I’ve also had stints with the Westfield W-League’s Sydney FC and the New South Wales Institute of Sport.”

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Australian side it’s even more so.”

Gone are the days of size and strength being requirements for a successful Australian football team, a new focus on technique will make up the core of the national squad, a simple mission for Juric who was once labeled as one of Australia’s most technically gifted players.

“At the 13’s [technique] is a priority.”

“Maybe in the past it hasn’t been so much in Australian football but at the moment it’s definitely important and it’s the way I believe it should be done.”

“We should be looking for technical and smart players.”

With only four Socceroos caps to his name (1 goal), much of the football community is a firm believers that the cultured defender was unlucky not to have represented his country many more times.

“It certainly wasn’t a disappointment because to play for Australia is great in any case but obviously you would love to have 50 or 60 caps but that’s how football goes.”

“To be coaching now, I’m aiming for the highest as well but you certainly don’t have guarantees in anything.”

Sitting up the top of the grand stand at O’Connor Enclosed in his first duty as national team head coach, the unassuming Juric kept a watchful eye over the Boys 13 competition looking out for the next Harry Kewell or Tim Cahill as he prepares the countries newest national team.

“A National Junior Championships is huge because it gives them a stepping stone and a insight into where their careers can go in the

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ABOVE: Ante Juric applying his trade for Penrith Nepean United.

Picture courtesy of Football NSW

future.”

“We had Under 14’s Nationals [when I was growing up] but there was no Australian team and the championships were very sporadic but these kids now have a stepping stone now and a pathway to where they can get to and now with the

Despite leaving Canberra years ago, the 35 year old still has proud memories of his younger footballing days in the National Capital, even making the effort to return home every now and then.

“I grew up in Canberra, playing in the Tuggeranong area and then went to Canberra FC when I was 14, played first grade and was noticed there to get into the Young Socceroos which eventuated into the Socceroos which was a successful stepping stone for me.”

“It was definitely tough leaving Canberra back in those days but I’ve got fond memories and my heart is still in Canberra.”

“I’ve got mates who are still playing [at Canberra FC] and every time I’m back I go to the club, they still treat me as one of their own and as a football son so I’m very proud of being brought up in that team.”

“It certainly wasn’t a disappointment because to play for Australia is great...“

With an evident love for the territory and the club, Juric went as far as not ruling out the possibility of one day returning to Canberra FC. “There’s certainly a desire [to return to Canberra FC] but sadly because of work I’m not sure if it will ever happen.”

Until that day, Juric is happy to continue his coaching apprenticeship in junior football at Trinity Grammar School, with the occasional dabble in the Westfield W-League and the New South Wales Institute of Sport.

“I’ll continue with coaching juniors and see what doors open in terms of coaching, if I can continue this national role for the next year or possibly look at institute jobs, there’s a lot of opportunities for coaches and players now in the football environment.”

“Hopefully I can continue and develop as a coach as well because it’s still early days.”

There’s little doubt though that this opportunity to coach the Boys 13 National Team will feed his desire to one day return to the Socceroos in a coaching manner.

“That’s what you’ve got to aim for as a coach and if it drops short of that, that’s fine.”

After spending his entire life fully entrenched in the football family, Juric is a strong believer that Canberra deserves a Hyundai A-League side that would benefit the community as a whole, from players and administrators to the economy.

The successful staging of the Asian Cup Qualifier at Canberra Stadium between the Socceroos and Kuwait in which over 20,000 walked through the turnstiles is enough evidence to prove that the community is ready for a team.

“As for football playing, I would love to but sadly I’ll be in Sydney for the next couple of years and by then my career will be over.”

“In terms of coaching possibly because I might be brought back to Canberra with work in a couple years time when my career is over.”

but you’ve got to aim somewhere so I’ll aim [to coach the Socceroos] and to coach a team to win a FIFA World Cup.”

ABOVE: Ante looking pretty in red BELOW: Juric still has the midas touch for Penrith. Picture courtesy of Football NSW

“I’ve still got a lot of friends in the [Socceroos] and to see them go to the World Cup and see them playing in front of 20,000 in Canberra was unheard of when I was going through, when it wasn’t that long ago.”

“Even in those years I felt proud to be [playing for the Cosmos], there were avenues for young players such as Vince Grella when I was there, he was only a young boy, and now he’s a vital national team member.”

“It would be a great opportunity for young players as well as the nation’s capital itself.”

If Juric’s meteoric rise in the coaching ranks continues, we may even see a local at the helm of the team.

“I would definitely think about it if I was offered [a coaching role].”

“That will always be the dream to be at the highest standard and in your home town, that would be unbelievable if it ever eventuates.”

“I don’t know if it’s an unrealistic aim

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Local officials capitalise on opportunities

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ccording to Referee’s State Coach, Clive Mackillop, local officials are in a ‘unique position’ to regular opportunities above and beyond local competitions to cut their teeth.

With visiting football teams to Australia usually making a stop in the national capital to stay at the Australian Institute of Sport, local referees are often given opportunities that their state federation counterparts can only dream of.

For local official, Richard Naumovski, the last few weeks have seen the Premier League regular appointed to a number of representative fixtures including an international between the QANTAS Joeys and Japan as well as the ACT Young Rockets verses Beijing Guoan.

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Naumovski believes that these opportunities are further enhancing his officiating ability when it comes to local competitions.

“They’re a good opportunity to referee at another level, the Premier League here is quite strong but to get international standard games, so be it at a younger age, it gives a referee a chance to progress further, gives them a lot more experience and a lot more confidence,” Naumovski said following the Young Rockets game.

“The experience that we gain from games like that we can definitely

bring it to the Premier League.

Like I said, the Premier League is beginning to be a very strong league and we need strong referees to officiate them so the more experience and the more games we can get like this the better.”

Despite the territory having a long and proud history of producing quality referees, including three currently with FIFA accreditation (Ben Williams, Ben Wilson, Allyson Flynn), the reigning Men’s Referee of the Year is resigned to the fact of missing out on an international career.

With that in mind, Naumovski is thrilled with the opportunity to be appointed to these fixtures after years of hard work.

Youth League.

“What we would really like is a Hyundai A-League team here which would assist in the development even more.”

“I think [a FIFA badge] is an unachievable goal due to age but having games like that does give some of us old blokes an opportunity and something to look forward to.”

“We would get more people coming into refereeing and a much better pathway for them locally because at the moment to succeed at the national level they actually have to at some point travel to Sydney which is not what we want to see.”

“It’s a good opportunity to get recognition in that respect, I guess if you put the hard work in and you dedicate yourself to becoming a good referee you get rewarded for it.”

According to the Referee’s State Coach, Clive Mackillop, location, location, location is the reasoning for the incredible opportunities in the region.

“We are in a unique position here where we have the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and so any teams that come here we get first dibs on doing games unless they are A-League standard or international team standard in which case the FFA appoint the officials,” Mackillop said.

“What the FFA usually does with the younger national teams is appoint local referees so they get a chance to see people they haven’t seen before and a different type of environment for the referees.”

The recent influx of visiting sides to Canberra isn’t anything new with national and professional football teams paying the AIS a visit for nearly three decades.

“We have a tradition of doing that over the last 20 or thirty years, prior to the number of teams that go through the institute now we used to get regular visits from J-League teams , we’ve had Gamba Osaka here a couple of times and local referees got to do those games,” Mackillop said.

“We started to get a regular stream of national team development games at the institute and those games are always refereed by locals as well.”

“We’re in a fantastic position here, to not only get the chance to work with some of the more senior coaches as well but [local referees] get to see conditions that are a lot tighter than just the local league.”

Mackillop also said that a Canberra based Hyundai A-League franchise would have a not only have an impact on local footballers and supporters but significantly benefit aspiring officials and local football.

“We’ve suffered from not having a National League team and so when the Westfield W-League opportunity came up last year we got a bit of a boost out of it as well as the National

“We don’t want to see our best referees going up to referee in Sydney all the time, we would rather have an approach where we’ve got good high quality games here in Canberra and that guarantees our pathway for referees.”

Until then, local officials will continue to be presented with incredible opportunities such as youth international fixtures or professional friendlies.

For Naumovski, the opportunity has been a real eye opener, even admitting to occasionally being caught watching in awe at the incredible young talent running around him. “[The play] is very quick which is getting a bit difficult on the old legs.” laughs Naumovski.

“There’s a lot of very good young players coming through and it will be a good opportunity that one day some players will come through the ranks and represent Australia and I can turn around and say ‘I refereed that bloke when he was younger” “I try and avoid [becoming a spectator].”

“However there are certain games where it’s just inevitable where the play is that good you tend to appreciate the game in a spectator capacity but as soon as you start doing that it’s a quick reminder let’s get back on the job because things can change pretty quick.”

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The ultramodern city of Dubai is home to the world’s most expensive hotel, largest mall and indoor ski resort and will soon be home to the world’s tallest building and largest theme park. The city is also currently the home of former Majura junior and Canberra City Club Pink Premier League player, Elle Weston.

After finishing year 12 last year, the 19 year-old is in Dubai for her gap year working at the prestigious English boarding school, Repton, where she’s living and breathing football alongside former England international, Carlton Palmer.

After The Offsider managed to work out the time difference between here and Dubai, it caught up with Elle to talk about what life is like in the world’s most exciting city, playing football in a Muslim country, Tim Cahill’s new football academy and why Canberra United is so popular at Repton.

TO: First and foremost, welcome to The Offsider Elle.

EW: Thanks for having me.

TO: You’re living in Dubai these days, how did you end up there?

EW: I wanted to do a gap year to get some experience and see if I really wanted to do teaching and coaching before starting university. I looked at a lot of the English boarding schools because my eldest brother did a gap year over there and he had a great time so I started looking over there. I originally found Repton in the UK which is a leading boarding school in Brighton, England and then I found Repton in Dubai. Wishful thinking, I sent my resume off to Repton in Dubai as well as quite a few places in England. I eventually got an email back from the Repton College in Brighton saying they accepted me and then a week later I got a letter from Repton College in Dubai also offering me a spot.

TO: Was there any hesitation at first going to live in Dubai rather than England?

EW: It was definitely a surprise to be offered the position in Dubai. I weighed up the options. My brother lives over here in Dubai so that was a big plus and I’m not all that keen on cold weather because it makes me quite depressed because I can’t

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really be that active. There were no real negatives in England besides the weather; there were just a lot of positives about Dubai. It was a pretty easy decision in the end for me.

TO: Not being a fan of the cold, I can’t help but think you make a pretty safe choice.

EW: Yes [laughs]. I think I definitely made a pretty good choice.

TO: I should imagine life is a little different compared to living in Canberra?

EW: Religion is probably one of the main differences because it’s a Muslim country so it’s quite strict in that way because it determines what you wear, whether it’s appropriate and how you act as well. It’s such a unique place, the school holidays are quite different over here because the school year is from September until July and then they have a two month summer break and then come back late August or early September and that’s due to the weather. June, July and August are very hot with temperatures in the late 40’s or early 50’s so it’s quite humid. I’m quite used to the Australia sun where it’s really sharp and hot, here its really humid and murky so you get really dehydrated and tired really easily in the sun.

TO: I couldn’t imagine playing football in temperatures like that would be enjoyable?

EW: I went from training four times a week and playing in Canberra and then coming here I was worried about what I could do because with it being a Muslim country, females are quite restricted. Muslim women aren’t allowed to do as much as men are but it doesn’t really impact on the expats. One of the other gap students here is from Repton in the UK and she got herself into the DWFA, Dubai Women’s Football Association, so she got me a trial and I was selected into the Division One League and have been playing ever since.

TO: With it being a Muslim country, have you had any difficulties playing football or had to cover up?

EW: No, not at all. There are some Muslim women that actually play football with us, a lot of them have to cover up depending on how strict their religion is but otherwise it really doesn’t impact on me at all. The only impact the Muslim religion really has on the expats is around Ramadan where you can’t eat during the daylight hours for a month. It’s not like that in Dubai [having to cover up]. Places like Saudi Arabia are quite strict but certainly not in Dubai. They don’t really like us walking around in bikinis in the mall but otherwise you’re pretty fine.

TO: How about the football itself over there in Dubai? I should imagine the league is made up of plenty of expats?

EW: There’s a lot of expats that do play football over here. In Division One you see a lot of personal trainers and footballers from around the world who have come to Dubai to work but still want to play.

Division One is quite a high league, we’ve got quite a few good coaches, my coach’s dad used to play for Arsenal in the early days, so there are quite a few good coaches from around the world who have come to coach and relax a bit.

TO: I’ve already asked how living in Dubai compares to playing in Canberra, how does the football compare?

EW: It’s definitely not up to Westfield W-League standards in any way but I would definitely compare it to Club Pink Premier League standard.

TO: Football must be a great opportunity to get away from the school where you live, eat, work and play?

EW: Football is definitely a lovely escape and the girls are great. It’s been such a good way to meet new people who are from all around the world so I’m going to have some great contacts when I leave.

The school itself has good really fantastic facilities so that makes it a lot easier.

They’ve got two indoor Futsal courts, an English Premier League standard football field out the back with the lights, a spare training football field, 25 metre swimming pool, tennis courts, we’re building a cricket oval at the moment. Dubai is going to experience success in all sporting areas because of the facilities that are available.

I’m certainly not short of a pitch to play football around the school.

TO: Any idea how long you’ll be in Dubai for, I understand you’ve just been offered an incredible football opportunity?

EW: I’m not really sure, my contract at Repton ends in December but I’ve just been offered a coaching position. An academy started up at Repton for boys elite rugby and football and now they’re adding a girls football program to the academy which should be at the start at the end of August.

They just asked me to coach but there’s still a lot of happen between now and then so we’ll just have to see what happens.

TO: Can you tell us a little bit more about the Academy coaching opportunity?

EW: Former England international footballer, Carlton Palmer, is the head of Repton’s junior Physical Education program so he’s just started up the Elite Sports Academy with Tim Cahill and former Samoan dual code international Apollo Perelini as the head of rugby. It’s separate to the school but it’s based at Repton so they train and play here. If the students want to get into the Academy they need to trial like anyone else from outside the school. At the moment they’ve got the boys football academy so I went and spoke to Carlton and said “I’m really interested in getting involved to get experience” and he said back that he’s actually got a girls academy opening in September so “we’ll look to you for coaching and pay you for it” so I was quite excited. I haven’t received any further information but he’s spoken to the head of the Academy and they’re definitely keen so I’m sure I’ll hear a little bit more about the opportunity very soon.

teaching as well so I can look at getting into Academies and Schools to do coaching and programs.

TO: Have the opportunities that have come about been a surprise?

EW: I knew coming to Dubai would be a completely different experience but I didn’t really know what to expect so every day is a new day and a new opportunity so it’s been really good. I sometimes have a slap myself and remind myself I’m in Dubai.

TO: What’s it like living in Dubai?

EW: It’s certainly an amazing place to live.

Every corner you look there’s a gigantic shopping mall, I really mean gigantic, they’ve just built the Dubai Mall which is the biggest mall in the world now so it roughly takes three days to see the whole thing. Having said that, the shopping over here is amazing!

TO: Were you a shopaholic before you went over there?

EW: Not really. It’s not a cheap as everyone thinks it is over here, it’s quite expensive.

With the economic crisis hitting here it’s a little bit different now but I look like to look around but they’ve got some amazing football boots here so I’m in a little bit of heaven. So I’ll definitely have some nice boots when I come home.

TO: What’s your role at the school?

ABOVE: Elle front of the Repton’s subtle front door. LEFT: Elle with her Club Pink Premier League teammates last year

TO: Coaching by the sounds of it is obviously something you want to get involved in?

EW: Definitely! I’ve been talking to quite a few people here. I know Nick Haddin, he’s done a lot of coaching with Australian Cricket, his brother is Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, so I’ve been talking to him about what he did at university and what I would really like to do. He’s been offering advice so I’ve been thinking of doing Sports Science at university and then doing an extra year of

EW: During the day I’m floating between the nursery kids who are 3 and 4 years old to assistant teaching in the classroom and by lunch time I’m out coaching football, ball skills or other sports as well. During the evening I’m playing football or Futsal in the gym with the boarders so it’s a twelve hour day. You never really stop because I live on campus so it’s quite different.

TO: I’ve just heard a rumour that you just received a Canberra United replica shirt. You doing everything you can to promote the team over there?

EW: I’ve only just got it the other night. A lot of the sporting people over here have heard be raving about Canberra United so there were a few disappointed people over here to hear that they lost in the Westfield W-League Grand Final. I can’t stop talking about my team. I’ve got the posters all over my room as well.

TO: Thank you very much for your time!

EW: Thank you very much for talking to me and big hello to everyone back there!

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Galactic Mission to NYL With the 2009 Young Rockets program blasting off for another year, the ACT representatives could be stars in the National Youth League, if given the opportunity.

Without a Hyundai A-League franchise based in the region and subsequent National Youth League side, it might seem like Canberra’s talented footballers are being left behind.

But this year the Young Rockets program will be back to help the ACT’s talented teens to bridge the gap between local and national competitions.

And in 2009 the program is set to be better than ever according to Capital Football’s assistant Technical Director and Young Rockets coach Pat McCann.

“The Young Rockets are part of an ongoing development program for Capital Football,” McCann said.

“We are that interim program, we are going to get an A-League team at some point in time, it’s our job as a state federation to maintain and fill that gap up until that point.”

“Ideally as a state federation we want to try and offer these players

as many opportunities as possibly to play against a high level opposition together as we can.

“We’ll have a squad of twenty five or thirty, all of whom are exceptional players in their own right and it’s games like this that they can potentially be identified to go and play at the next level.”

“We’re hoping to put together a more permanent calendar in addition to these spontaneous fixtures.”

“That calendar’s most important purpose in being able to take these players out of season and continue to post season with them so it does expand their training program to a ten or eleven month program.”

“That will mean we can get them playing above and beyond their current eighteen or twenty games to get them playing thirty or forty games a season.”

The predominantly summer program will see the brightest young talent from around the region train throughout the year, with the program to complement the players respective clubs during the winter months.

“We expect all of the Young Rockets to be playing at a minimum the Premier Pathway League but looking at this year’s squad, the majority of them are playing in the Premier League.”

“This program is definitely in addition to their club training and club matches so for us, getting them in together collectively to be able to train together as a group is a great strength of this program but also being able to work in conjunction with the clubs in developing them is an advantage we have.”

Although, it’s inevitable that the Young Rockets program will receive some resistance from clubs who will no doubt hesitate to release key players.

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McCann understands where the clubs are coming from but suggests that those sides need to realize that it’s not a competition for a player’s commitment.

“Obviously right now with it being ‘in season’, their first obligation is their Premier League clubs but we certainly hope to be able to offer some intermittent fixtures for them.”

“During the season, every weekend, every club is after that elusive three points and any competition for their players, especially for late week fixtures or even mid week fixtures is going to be tough to convince some coaching staff that this program is an advantage for them.”

“I can certainly understand that but

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ABOVE: Young Rockets squad from 2008 after their fixture in front of Central Coast Mariners coaching staff.

“We are going to get an A-League team at some point in time, it’s our job as a state federation to maintain and fill that gap up until that point.”

I also think that given the group of players we have and the access to intermittent games, we need to get them together as often as possible and allow them to have the opportunities

to play.”

“This is an additional opportunity to the player’s Premier League commitments; not a competing one.”

The goal is simple for the program, either provide a stepping stone between the Premier League and Hyundai A-League or establish a program that could easy become the youth league team when Canberra gets a team.

“As a coach, one of your measures is whether or not players that have played for you are moving onwards and I think that’s a good and effective measure.”

“While it would be great to see these kids progress to a national league, it would be even better to see the

program aligned to a Canberra national league team by becoming its National Youth League team.”

“I think the number one purpose of the Young Rockets right now is to fill the void that currently exists without the existence of a National Youth League team.”

In the inaugural season of the National Youth League last year, Tasmania became the unofficial eighth team in the competition with fixtures against the bye team, an idea that Capital Football would love to replicate.

Until we get a franchise we can call

our own, the Young Rockets is hoping to be able to follow in the footsteps of the Apple Isle with a greater number of youth league fixtures this coming year instead of just relying solely upon visiting teams to the National Capital.

“We managed last year to finish off the year with a couple of fixtures, we’re looking at the moment towards establishing a more permanent calendar of training and competitive matches.”

“Currently we rely now on touring teams coming to Canberra to take advantage of the Australian Institute of Sport.”

“If one of our roles is being able to fulfill bye week fixtures, mid week fixtures or pre-season games with National Youth League teams we would welcome the opportunity.”

“We played against Sydney FC last year who went on to win the National Youth League in the inaugural year.”

“A number of full professional first team players lined up for Sydney FC int he fixture and our boys competed on an even par with them.”

“I have absolutely no reservations about our players being able to compete at that level.”

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Capital Football hasn’t ruled out expanding its Men’s Premier League next season with licences up for renewal at the end of the 2009 season.

T

hree years since the restructure of the Men’s Premier League and its pathway, 2010 will be the first time that teams outside it can apply to be included in the league.

Nine teams currently make up the Premier League structure and with a number of Division One sides knocking on the door for inclusion into the region’s top flight league, Men’s League manager Alasdair Grocock is ready to think about a bigger top flight league.

“We’re going to consider every application on merit, whether that means we have an eight, ten or twelve team competition next year,” Grocock said.

“It’s the board that makes the final decision but we’re not going to go into the decision making process with any preconceived ideas that we’re only going to have eight or ten teams.”

‘We’re going to have to wait until the applications come in.”

Despite the Premier League only kicking off at the end of April, the review process has already started with the aim of

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establishing one of the strongest leagues in the country.

“We’ve put a committee together and what we’re doing at the moment is reviewing the original applications and then we’ll be going to the existing clubs to evaluate how they’ve performance against existing criteria,” Grocock said.

“It’s then up to the committee to formulate how we will accept those clubs in re-applying to continue as a Premier League club.”

“We don’t anticipate that there will be much change in the criteria so they’ll be going through a similar process all the clubs went through three years ago.”

“I know there’s about three or four clubs that are interested in applying for the Premier League next year.”

Two of those clubs looking to take the next step up the senior men’s structure are STFA Strikers (based in Goulburn) and local outfit White Eagles.

Both sides can boast impressive Project Coordination Federation Cup runs with the Strikers progressing through to the quarter finals whilst White Eagles appeared in their second consecutive semi finals.

The addition of these two teams could be a major benefit in increasing the competitive nature of the competition.

“It would mean everything to the area if we were able to gain a licence for the Premier League,” STFA Strikers Head Coach Carlo Aliffi said.

“We have a done a lot of work in order to develop the game in

Premier League promotion in sight with licences up for grabs this area and, if recent results are anything to go by, then we are more than ready.”

Along with the Strikers successful

The improvement in quality throughout the State League has meant there are some top-notch outfits plying their trade outside the top echelon of the game in the ACT. The White Eagles, like STFA, have put their strongest foot forward for inclusion into the Premier League after missing out on being granted a licence last time round.

run in the local pre-season competition, the Goulburn based side has continued to turn heads in Football NSW’s FA Cup style competition the Tiger Turf Cup. The Southern Tablelands team defeated New South Wales Super League team Macarthur Rams 4-3 on penalties to progress to the third round where they face further top flight opponents in Fraser Park.

Formed in 2000 as a representative team for the best talent in the Goulburn area the team enabled talented players to play at a top level relatively locally instead of having to travel long distances for quality football.

“It’s evident we have a lot of very good players,” Aliffi continued.

“To allow them to play at the highest level in the region would be deserved in my opinion. They are ready to make the step up and they need that opportunity.”

The State league 1 side would certainly have made a few Premier League coaches nervously during an epic Project Coordination Federation Cup campaign that saw White Eagles make the semifinals for the second successive season.

Along the way Canberra City were held to a 2-2 draw in the group stages, but it was the shock quarter final defeat of ACT Grand Final Champions Belconnen United that impressed the most.

Scott Conlon’s Premiership favourites were beaten 2-1 in a feisty last eight match-up.

The dream run was ended by a Canberra FC in the semi-finals, but the White Eagles had done enough to make the Canberra Football Community take notice.

“We showed during the Project Coordination Federation Cup that we can match it with the best of teams in the ACT Premier League and, in my opinion, have proved that we should be there.” White Eagles Head Coach Eric Bonnett said.

“The majority of the players we have

here are good enough to play in the Premier League.

“We have a meeting in the next few weeks to take a further few steps towards completing the application process and ensuring we meet all the criteria laid down within.

“We are certainly keen to get in and we would bring a distinctive style of play to the division. As I said, we have quality players, but we also have a vociferous and passionate following and regularly get decent crowds to our matches.”

The Capital Football developmental and administrative standards were set in 2006 for the Premier League structure and require each Premier League club to field teams (or affiliated teams) in the Premier Pathway League, Premier 18’s and Premier 16s competitions.

Capital Football is hoping to have the make up of next year’s Premier League confirmed by the end of the year allowing clubs the best preparation for the 2010 season.

“We haven’t specifically put in a timetable at this stage but going on the last time, we’re mindful we need to give clubs as much time to prepare for the upcoming season,” Grocock said.

“I would think that we would probably be looking at having the decision made by sometime in October, it may change at this stage, but it gives those Premier League all summer to prepare for next year.”

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Club Pink Premier League Rising Stars for 2009 Interviews done by Merryn Sherwood

Holly BURKE

ANU Women’s Soccer Club Age: 26 Position: Centre Midfield Favourite football team? Stoke City Favourite Canberra United player? Caitlin Munoz Favourite international footballer? Tim Cahill What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? It’s a really competitive competition with a group of really great girls.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title?

ANU are re-building this year but we may surprise a few teams through the season. The league title will probably go to Belwest. They are such a strong team.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? I’ll be trying to concentrate on the basics this year. Nothing fancy at all.

What’s the best soccer tip you’ve ever received? Always go into tackles with 100%.

What is your coaches best catch-phrase? He always seems to be saying “Now what did you do wrong there?”

What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? Just to enjoy soccer.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? The competition just keeps getting stronger but we still aren’t taken seriously enough.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favourite subject? No, unfortunately. I work full time!

What’s your favourite thing to do outside football? Play golf

Georgia Yeoman-Dale Belwest Foxes

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Age: 15 Position: Striker Favourite football team? Liverpool Favourite Canberra United player? Amy Chapman Favourite international footballer? Ronaldinho What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? So many opportunities and it’s such a small place that everyone knows everyone.

Apart from yourself, who do you think could also be a rising star this year? Why? Ashleigh Palombi, Hope Wilkins, Sally Rohjan, Grace Field and Catherine Brown because they’re all such good players and show so much potential.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title?

I like to consider us tough competion for the other teams, with so much experience in players like Cian [Maciejewski], Jenna [Maciejewski], Sofia [Merkoureas] and Ness [Burdett].

Who will win the league title? I like to think we have a good chance at defending our title, but with a team like Woden that have improved so much and Weston Creek who always give us a difficult game it’s hard to tell.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? Speed is my biggest advantage, but I’m always looking to improve other aspects of my game.

What’s the best soccer tip you’ve ever received? Whether you are an attacker or a defender is decided by whether your team has the ball or not. (thanks Gramps) What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? I’d love to one day wear a Matildas shirt of my own, but Canberra United is definitely in my sights now.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? The fact that there are opportunities opening up with the W-League having been so successful. Nothing bad at the moment for me, everything is fantastic.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favourite subject? Lyneham High School, Sports Science.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside football? Hang out with friends

Sarah TUTT

Belconnen United Age: 18 Position: Left Wing Favourite football team? Man United Favourite Canberra United player? Rebecca Kiting. She always does well and is dedicated.

Favourite international footballer? Cristiano Ronaldo. Play for Man united, quick on his feet and good looking.

What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? How women’s soccer teams in Canberra bring up younger developing girls, giving them some field time and encouraging them. I think this gives a lot of girls a goal to look for when playing a sport and it’s great that teams throughout Canberra do that.

Apart from yourself, who do you think could also be a rising star this year? Why? Emma Hiney. We call her the terminator. Don’t judge her by her size, she will take on anyone, she can easily steal the ball right from your feet and she has a tendency to sneak up you without even trying to.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title? You can expect quality basic yet vital ball work and hear encouragement from our team. Belconnen of course! There will be hard games up ahead though, but we have the determination and teamwork to win it.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? I go through phase with little tricks I use; I’ve got some pace, so that’s something to look out for I guess.

What’s the best soccer tip you’ve ever received? Get your arse on the line.

What is your coaches best catch-phrase? ‘This is where the fitness comes from!’. He uses it when we do fitness, especially near the end to make the girls push that little bit harder.

What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? W-League would be nice, but being realistic, I’ve got to concentrating on excelling in premier league first.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? It’s good because I am playing while watching how popular and the standards of female soccer are growing vigorously. Also now there is a women’s league. Bad is the kind of pitches we play on.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favorite subject? I’m taking a gap year working for the Dept. of Finance and Deregulation, next year I plan to study unit doing Commerce.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside football? Having a night out with friends

Kelsey PERRY Canberra FC

Age: 15 Position: Midfield Favourite football team? Liverpool FC Favourite Canberra United player? Grace Gill Favourite international footballer? Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? The opportunity to train with elite players and coaches. Going through capital football academy, the chance to go and train with ACTAS and Canberra United is great.

Apart from yourself, who do you think could also be a rising star this year? Why? Sally Rohjan from Woden Valley. She’s always played up an age group in Academy and she’s always really consistent and she’s is always really strong. She can play in any position.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title? Cause this is our first year and we are a new club, I think its going to take some time, but hopefully working better as a team and improving over the year. I think Woden Valley will win the league.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? Nothing too crazy, I just want to make sure that I always make the good decisions.

What’s the best soccer tip you’ve ever received? Always keep possession because without the ball you can’t win the game without the ball.

What is your coaches best catch-phrase? One of my academy coaches always said ‘crush, kill, destroy.’

What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? This year I want to make the under-17s nationals squad and the schoolgirls squad. Then one-day I’d love to play for W-League and also I’d love to play for the Matildas.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? With the W-League just started there is heaps more opportunities for female football players, with my club, they haven’t had a PLL team for a long time so that was good. The number of teams [in Canberra] could still improve.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favourite subject? I’m in Year 10 at Campbell High School. Sports Science is my favourite subject.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside football? Be with my friends and just hang out

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Elizabeth PEARSON Weston Creek

Age: 16 Position: Midfield Favourite football team? Canberra United Favourite Canberra United player? Jenny Bisset - because I have played with her the most and I think she’s a good player.

Favourite international footballer? Whoever is on the highlights reel from around the world.

What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? I suppose the facilities are pretty good and the pathway is pretty clearly set out. The majority of coaches I have had, they have all been great.

Apart from yourself, who do you think could also be a rising star this year? Why? Krista Hagen from Weston Creek, she is trialling with ACTAS at the moment. And quite a few of the ACT 17s girls team that is trialling for nationals. I’m trialling with them and there are plenty of good players.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title?

Hopefully to take out the title, I actually think we could if we are playing well. I think if we a have a good season we could. Hopefully we will beat Belwest in the final.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? I was put on the wing the other day because I was speedy, but mainly just the midfield things, to play well in the midfield.

What’s the best football tip you’ve ever received? Play smart. Football is a thinking game and if you aren’t constantly thinking then you aren’t moving and anticipating what might happen.

What is your coaches best catch-phrase? [Weston Creek coach] Rob [Mason] always says to have fun and dance.

What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? I kind of turned off the elite path a while ago, the rest of season I’d just like to achieve as much as I can with Weston Creek. It’s just about having fun, but also playing at a good standard.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? At the moment it is pretty nice to have all the excitement about the inaugural W-League, we are at a pretty good time in women’s football. There is still a long way to go, but the number of girls is rising and rising and the elite pathway now are great.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favourite subject? Year 11 at Canberra Girls Grammar. I do double english and double history, so humanities are my speciality.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside football? Hang out with my friends.

Ashleigh PALOMBI Woden Valley

Age: 17 Position: Striker Favourite football team? Liverpool Favourite Canberra United player? Caitlin Munoz Favourite international footballer? Caitlin Munoz What’s the best thing about playing football in Canberra? How close knit it all is, the way its such a small community, you can just enjoy the competition.

Apart from yourself, who do you think could also be a rising star this year? Why? Georgia Yeoman-Dale (Belwest) and Grace Field (Woden Valley), they just have such a good presence on the ball, Grace has so much time and Georgia has so much composure, I’ve played a lot with both of them and I really value them as footballers.

What can we expect from your Club Pink Premier League team this year? Who will win the league title?

Definitely a finals berth and hopefully a title but we wont get ahead of ourselves, we’ll just see what happens this year. I think the title will be between us and Belwest.

Any patented tricks we can expect to see this season from you? Last week I did try a bicycle kick, it didn’t go as planned though. I’ll see what happens through the season, but there will be lots of step-overs, I like doing those, and taking players on.

What’s the best soccer tip you’ve ever received? When you are shooting keep your body over the ball instead of leaning back and to try and be composed in front of goal.

What is your coaches best catch-phrase? Woden coach Doug [Penny] always says to me, you have free range so do what you want.

What are your goals in football, Canberra United, W-League, Matildas in your sights? Definitely with the new W-League it’s a real incentive for us to push even harder, at the end this year, I’ll just see what happens. But a career in football would be my dream.

What’s great about being a female soccer player at the moment? What’s bad? The recognition that we are getting now, the way female football is progressing is great. It’s not just all about the boys now, we actually mean something. It’s all pretty good.

Are you still at school or university? If so, which one? And what is your favourite subject? Year 11 at Radford College. Favourite subject is human movement.

What’s your favourite thing to do outside football? Probably hang out with friends and just a be a girl.

Capital Football Unit 2 / 3 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT, 2600 Tel: 02-6260-4000

Fax: 02-6260-4999

www.capitalfootball.com.au