Goal for Africans

By Geelong Story Updates
A $185,000 grant will kick start formation of an African soccer team in Geelong’s northern suburbs.
Member for Lara John Eren announced the funding yesterday, saying Geelong could look forward to a “formidable” team of mostly Sudanese immigrants.
“I tell you what, I’ve seen a couple of them in action and they are extremely talented,” Mr Eren said.
“I’m certainly looking forward to the day when they can get a team going – they would be very formidable.”
Geelong has one of Victoria’s biggest Sudanese communities.
Mr Eren estimated about 50 Sudanese families lived in the city, mostly in the northern suburbs.
He expected the community to provide enough players for firsts and reserves senior sides.
Sport organisation Leisure Networks, multicultural services body Diversitat and Corio Bay Cricket and Sports Club would use the State Government funding to build the team.
Mr Eren said the Corio club would provide mentors to develop skills on the field and in administration and management.
The initiative was part of a statewide program to help African immigrants integrate into the Australian community. The program provided funding for 15 integration projects around Victoria.
Mr Eren said Geelong was one of the funding winners because it had “proactive” Sudanese community members capable of helping a soccer team get off the ground.
He said soccer was an ideal way to stimulate African integration because “as we all know, a healthy body helps to create a healthy mind”, he said.
“Obviously, they are new arrivals, the most recent (immigrants” to come to Australia,” Mr Eren said.
“And they come from a country that compared to Australia is totally different.
“This (soccer) is something they did back in their home country and integrating them into the Australian sporting culture is the best way to forming a connection.”