Derrimut Primary School student Frank gets ahead in his soccer with tips from Melbourne Heart’s Nick
SOCCER stars and supporters will converge on Derrimut this month for the Westpac Community Football Festival.
Hosted by Melbourne Heart, the three-day festival will include coaching sessions and clinics for school kids and players with disabilities.
Melbourne Heart CEO Scott Munn said the club had a community department focused on providing support to grassroots clubs, which he said were “football’s lifeblood”.
“Throughout our club’s existence, we have been vigilant in the belief that it is incumbent upon us as an elite level organisation to further the cause of football throughout the state and inspire the next generation of Victorians,” Mr Munn said.
“Due to Westpac’s commitment and drive, the Club is delighted to extend a hand and support Brimbank’s local football community through the festival, which we hope will help boost the sport’s grassroots profile in the area.”
Brimbank City Council’s Chair of Administrators Peter Lewinsky said the chance to host the festival was a “coup” for the community, with many mad soccer fans residing in the West.
“We need to remember that soccer is the world game and the sport of choice for many new arrivals, especially those from Africa where the sport is huge,” he said.
Mr Lewinsky hoped the festival would also be a chance to show off the new sports grounds at Balmoral Park, home ground of the Balmoral Soccer Club.
Melbourne Heart players and St Albans locals Nick Kalmar and Mate Dugandzic attended the launch of the festival last week to run students from Derrimut Primary through their paces.
The Westpac Community Football Festival will kick off with a ‘coach the coach’ seminar and will also include a special coaching session with players from non-English speaking backgrounds, as well as clinics.
Both girls and boys are invited to take part in the clinics.
“We expect students and players of all ages to gain skills, not to mention lots of renewed enthusiasm for the game,” Mr Lewinsky said.
The Westpac Community Football Festival will be held from Monday 16 July to Wednesday 18 July at Balmoral Park in Derrimut.
