Skills on show at Indigenous Football Tournament

More than 450 Indigenous boys and girls, aged 7 through 14, pulled on their boots for the third annual Football Federation Victoria Indigenous Football Tournament.

The tournament was made possible through a partnership between Football Federation Victoria, the Victorian State Government and the Regan Milstein Foundation. The Department of Social Services (DSS) also provided support, with funding from the Indigenous Leadership and Indigenous Community Strategic Investment programmes.

Sport allows Indigenous boys and girls to engage in positive social development activities that support pathways into education and employment worldwide, as well as promoting good health and positive lifestyle choices.

Football Dreaming aims to maximise Indigenous participation in football, including development of personal and social skills through playing, coaching, refereeing and administration.

All regions across Victoria were represented with teams including Ballarat, Mildura, Shepparton, Werribee, Gippsland, Lakes Entrance, Eastern Metro, Northern Metro and Melbourne – all competing for the right to represent Victoria at the National Indigenous Youth Football Festival.

Role models and special guests included former Socceroo and current Melbourne Heart FC Indigenous Ambassador David Williams. Talent scouts also attended, on the look-out for the next big thing in soccer.

In between games, the players took part in clinics run by Matilda’s player Kyah Simon, who had just returned from playing in the National Women's Soccer League in the USA.

All playing participants were provided with Football Dreaming uniforms and equipment and a Closing the Gap show-bag, which included official Liverpool FC supporters gear.