It’s kick-off for 12,000 soccer players
09 Apr 10 by Steven Deare
It’s kick-off for 12,000 soccer players
Bill Kadayifci, Eddie Kadayifci, Serkan Dogan and Ender Kadayifci of Auburn FC. PICTURE: JOHN APPLEYARD
ALMOST 12,000 footballers will take to the fields of Parramatta, Holroyd and the Hills this weekend for the start of a big season for the world game.
In a year that will see the Socceroos contest the World Cup, many players are excitedly preparing for round one of the Granville District Soccer Football Association competition.
Clubs from Lidcombe to Rouse Hill will compete over 18 rounds until the finals in September. This will please many players after Granville dropped its 14 round format from last year due to club feedback.
While soccer’s player base in Australia has outstripped even Aussie Rules, Granville general manager Michael Briggs said the 11,800 registered players was down on last year.
``We’re down 200 players on last year,’’ he said. ``I can only put it down to competition from other sports. The AFL is out there with their AusKick and so on.’’
There will be a new club on the park however, Auburn FC. Wearing a distinctive turquoise uniform, the club at Webbs Avenue will bring 400 players and 29 teams from the Bankstown association.
Controversy has surrounded the club’s entry. Auburn FC grew out of the St Johns Auburn club and played in Bankstown for two years.
The club asked to play in Granville, but Granville voted against it late last year. Auburn then appealed to Football NSW, which granted entry.
Auburn president Seb Tas said the club had been misunderstood.
``There were a lot of lies and innuendo about Auburn FC,’’ he said. ``A lot of clubs around us were worried about losing players to us. But we never poached any players.’’
Auburn had grown rapidly in two years according to Tas, and so has been allocated Webbs Ave Reserve, which was home to St Johns Auburn. St Johns has moved to Princess Park, but Tas said there is no ill-feeling.
``We get along with them, we know their officials, and we’ll shake their hand,’’ he said.
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