Fury CEO Rabieh bidding farewell to club

TRENT SLATTER, Townsville Bulletin

May 27, 2017 12:00am

IT hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but outgoing Northern Fury CEO Rabieh Krayem is confident he’s leaving the club in prime position to develop the region’s football talent.

Krayem will step down after five years at the helm as North Queensland Football prepares to take over the running of the Fury’s NPL licence from next season.

The Fury was formed in 2012 to participate in the state competition and provide a new pathway to the top level so talented young players in Townsville weren’t forced to relocate.

The club is already reaping the rewards for its development focus including India Kubin, who is part of the Mini Matildas squad, along with A-League talents Braedyn Crowley and Matt Symes.

Krayem said he was immensely proud of what the Fury has achieved over the past five years, but he felt the time was right to move on.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve had enough, but it’s time to hand the banner to someone else,” Krayem said.

“I think there are opportunities for other people to contribute and, most importantly, I think the foundation has been laid in providing a professional level of coaching and facilities in Townsville.

“I walk away with my head high because where we were five years ago and where we are today is miles apart. We are the only regional licence that still continues and we’ve been able to maintain all levels despite the issues we’ve gone through.

“Brayden Crowley and India Kubin are probably the two highlights that stand out because they’ve achieved the highest level through what we’ve delivered. Those opportunities would not have been there if we hadn’t had the NPL pathway here in the region.

“I think that’s a credit to everyone who’s been involved in the club, from the volunteer coaches to the players to the parents and everyone else who’s put their hand up and given up their time.”

Krayem admitted there have been plenty of lows in his tenure as the Fury and local football clubs butted heads over the validity of the program.

The Fury endured a tumultuous period last year as the senior men failed to win a game, but Krayem stressed that people shouldn’t define the club’s success by one bad season for the NPL team.

“I think there’s been a lot of criticism about the success of it, but it has been very successful. One bad year for one team doesn’t define the club,” Krayem said.

“Last year was a disaster for the senior NPL side, but a huge success at the junior level with the amount of players that have gone on to play representative football at regional, state, and national level.

“There’s nine teams in the club and it’s created opportunities for kids who want to go to the next level. The foundations are very much there and we will see the fruits of that labour in coming years.”

Krayem said there were still challenges ahead for the new Fury board, but he believed the game would continue to thrive as long as Townsville’s football community presents a united front.

“I think the football community in this town has to decide, do they want football at an elite level, and if they do then they’ve all got to work together,” he said.

“Everyone has a place in football — the clubs, junior football, senior football, then you’ve got the NPL and hopefully in the coming years there’ll be a second tier national competition.

“The football community, and in particular NQ Football, has got some big decisions to make over the coming years otherwise we’ll miss these opportunities, but we’re in a prime position to maximise.

“If we can keep the best players here then I think it’s a bright future, but the football community has got to be united because if they’re not then football will go backwards.

“That’s the opportunity and the risk for the body who runs the game here.”

Thank fuck.

-PB

Just goes to prove me right again and again.
Last season was totally unnecessary if after the first 5 games we sacked the coach. Also proves Townsville can put a competitive team on the park. We could still do better if we resign the fury and all it stands for to the pages of history and start again with new team new people and a new name.
No one will go to their games.

4 games 2 wins. Surely got to be pleased.

What does a combined bid look like?  Is it essentially Fury continuing with NQ Football's support? 

Yup.

Without direct competition for the license it'll be more of the same.

Would be interesting if FQ didn't renew it outright though.

-PB

No one is going to wear a Northern Fury Shirt. We hate them. The board at NQ Football are shit. New president cowering to rahbi. This was the last chance we had to unite the game. The Fury name is toxic in Townsville to all except the mothers and fathers of children in the academy. Also what was MQ FOOTBALL thinking Fury where on the mat and the ref was at the count of 7 with fury no chance to stand up. Week as piss NQ Football

From the outside looking in, what was NQ Zone going to do differently to Fury? I would of thought (perhaps incorrectly), with Roncato as coach, there would be more engagement with local clubs moving forwards.

So there you go Fury and NQF join in a common bid for NPL 2018. So all hope is gone for Townsville. In a pertition to keep the fury they got 304 signatures. There are over 600 parents in the fury and they could not force all of them to sign . No one goes to the fury games and we hoped a new team would unite the game. Football in Townsville is finished.

Too little too late
I have decided to have no future part in football in Townsville. Unfortunately the fury have forced many people from the game in this town. I wish NQ Football all the best maybe they can unite the community behind the game.
The game in Townsville has become a status symbol for parents rather than a game played by children for the joy it brings , who become life long fans. this has been the legacy of elite academies.
It would be great if every adult could think back to why they played the game in the first place.

Fergie's gone!  That's got to make you happy Krones?

Keen. 

I'm ment I like NPL2 based on relegation and promotions

I like that Football at senior level should always be based on results

Fury failed to secure an NPL women's team for 2017. Gee the FQ Did not give them a license after all the nice things rabi said about them and the FFA on social media. Resorting to threatening parents if they leave fury and go to NQ Football is always a good way to build community support.

It won't be next season, but I've heard rumours of an NPL2 from 2018 which may include promotion and relegation between the two (similar to other states). 

any p and r from NPLQ next season. I think in truth it needs it. Let nature take it's course.

FQ Football know the fury have no local support. Hope NQ Football get a WNPL team in 2018

STATEMENT FROM NORTHERN FURY FC

30/11/2016

Northern Fury FC received a letter from the President of Football Queensland (FQ) this afternoon advising that our long-running ambition to have a women’s team from the club included in the Women’s NPL competition (WNPL) has been denied.

The FQ Board agree to three of the four proposals we submitted to advance women’s football in regional Queensland. We note that these three proposals are at no cost to FQ, but they also rely on there being a pathway for women’s elite development outside of south-east Queensland.

The decision of the FQ Board shows that it does not act in the best interests of Queensland football. It acts in the best interests of south-east Queensland football.

In denying a WNPL team, the FQ Board – which is allegedly responsible for advancing the game of football in the entire state of Queensland – is denying an opportunity to young women in North Queensland.

This comes at a time when participation in football by women and girls in the regions north of Mackay is declining – in stark contrast to national and international trends.

Northern Fury’s view is that this decline is largely because there is no pathway for advancement for talented young women players.

There is no women’s team in the NPL north of the Sunshine Coast leaving a very significant geographical part of Queensland, as well as a significant population, that is unrepresented.

Once they reach a certain level of achievement and age, talented players either have to relocate to Brisbane to fulfill their potential – or leave the sport altogether.

Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) ‘Whole of Football Plan’ states that Australia needs a pool of 3,000 players from age 12-19 years in elite development to ensure that Australian men and women can remain competitive in international competitions.

However, under FQ, this is only possible in Queensland for those who live in a small geographic pocket in the remote south-east of the state.

Further, the Whole of Football Plan states that players will not be excluded because of financial considerations, yet they clearly are on the basis of geography.

We believe this situation is unacceptable.

It is one of the reasons why Northern Fury has worked diligently over the past four years to build and grow the opportunities for young women by maintaining three teams at an elite development level at significant success.

Young women players from Northern Fury in this year alone have formed the backbone of state primary and high school teams, state championship teams and has also provided one national team player at U-16 level.

The fault for the overall decline in participation, and the lack of opportunity for young women players, outside of south-east Queensland lays squarely at the feet of the FQ Board. They are responsible for the growth and development of the game in the state of Queensland.

Only last month, despite having a CEO that has been in the role for almost 20 years, FQ advised in writing that they had no strategy to advance women’s football outside of south-east Queensland.

They have a Women’s Development Officer who has not visited regions outside south-east Queensland.

While Northern Fury has a cast-iron guarantee to bring $50,000 to the table to help fund inclusion of a team in the WNPL competition, FQ did not even try to raise one dollar of the remaining $70,000 required.

A team from North Queensland in the WNPL would help give the competition a state-wide footprint and deliver broader media coverage than its current, almost non-existent level.

However, they apparently have no confidence in their ability to raise the additional money through increased commercial opportunities.

Because of this, Northern Fury offered to assist FQ to identify possible additional sponsorships and commercial partners. They did not decline this offer; they simply ignored it.

Finally, despite all claims to the contrary from Football Federation Australia as well as FIFA regarding the link between pathways for players and growth in participation at local level, FQ states there is “no credible link”.

At Northern Fury, we believe they are axiomatic.

The Whole of Football Plan sets out the relationship between the elements of the ‘Football Ecosystem’ which includes participants at grassroots and an elite player pathway.

Indeed, the funding model of the Australian Sports Commission is based around the concept of an elite player pathway inspiring young people to take part in sport. Furthermore, the more participants, the greater the pool of talent available to help improve elite development through regional, state, national and international competitions – as required by the Whole of Football Plan.

One of the key barriers to the success of the pyramid model is the inability to take part in any form of elite development in the first place. This is precisely what Northern Fury aims to address.

Clearly, FQ has no interest in doing so.

When it comes to the ‘football ecosystem’ in Australia, the young people of regional and rural Queensland are regarded and treated as forgotten citizens.

ENDS

A copy of FQ’s letter is here. We note that it was received mere hours before a marquee event on the national football calendar, the FFA Cup, even though we understand the decision was made five days ago.

A copy of our proposal to advance the women’s game may be found here.

No wrong one you have to pay $19 to asx to find out

Looks like FFA does until 2018? Maybe I'm looking at the wrong one.

"Please tell us what you think about Northern Fury. Join us this Saturday at the Greek Community Centre, Flinders Street West for a fan forum from 5.15pm to 6.30pm. All welcome!"

We have been telling you for years "fuck off out of football "

Give the game back to the people NQ Football

Beers all round. 

Local 7 news reported Frank Farina is going to be on the board of Northern Fury

From facebook
"The more the game is united the greater our voice will be .
The game can only go forward if everyone is working together rather than working in silos .
Football registrations are growing in most areas but not in any of the 3 regions in the North .
This is not about pointing fingers at anyone because we are all responsible for the state of the game"

Don't be fooled we all hate the fury (except those who have kids in the fury)
"For all the good you have done be gone "

From fury face book

"How strong could football be if FNQ, NQF and Mackay zones as well as the Heat , Fury and the Mackay Crusaders all came together to represent football in the North under one umbrella.
A lot of energy gets wasted by everyone when we're all supposed be there to help grow the game at all levels as well as create a pathway for the kids who aspire to go to the next level.
It works in Rugby League so surely it could work in football."
Looks like fury want to mate with cairns . They spent the last week bagging FFA & Football Queensland.lol

Shame NF are so shite. 

The new NQ Football have made more money for football and upgrading fields 1,2 &3. Some great work being done at brolga.

whats this, sir?

Whilst the fury keep on yapping NQ FOOTBALL quietly get on with the job of returning football to Townsville number 1 sport. Looks great the smell that's another matter.