East Fremantle Football Club

WEST Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui and South Fremantle premiership player Paul Mugambwa will each appear as special guests at Multicultural Football Carnivals being held north and south of the river next week.

Naitanui, who’s family is from Fiji, and Mugambwa, of Ugandan descent, will both speak about the important role football has played in their lives and encourage others from multicultural backgrounds to have a go, not only at the carnivals, but through local community clubs. Mugambwa played junior football at Bullcreek Leeming JFC.

The first carnival on Monday, March 22, will see EFTel Oval a-buzz with more than 200 school students, participating in the AFL Multicultural ‘South of the River’ carnival. Two days later, on March 24, another 200 school children will head to Lightning Park in Noranda for the ‘North of the River’ carnival.

Organised as part of a Community Participation initiative with both the West Australian Football Commission and Department of Sport and Recreation, the carnival will see multicultural youth participate in modified football games and activities. As well as football games for students, there will be football clinics and a Halal barbecue coordinated by Perth Football Club and Stirling Lions Club.

The event is aimed to expose primary and secondary school children to AFL football through participation in round-robin matches and skills drills.  Furthermore, the event is a vehicle to assist multicultural youth and families join local football clubs.West Australian Football Commission director of football Grant Dorrington encouraged players from all backgrounds and levels to get involved in Australia’s inclusive national game.

“With the Community Multicultural Program we see football being used as a link for young people and families from across the globe to participate in local football clubs and play structured football on the weekend,” he said. “We encourage people from non-traditional football communities to get involved with our national sport and to those who are new to our great game, we say welcome.”

Department of Sport and Recreation director general, and Sharks great, Ron Alexander said sport was a wonderful way to enjoy life, stay healthy and build stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities. “I can say from personal experience that football achieves all of these things and more. I can think of no better way to integrate into the Aussie way of life than becoming a part of a football club. Nothing breaks down racial and cultural barriers better than being part of a multi-cultural sports team,” he said. “Not only that, it instills human values such as fair play, respect for others, teamwork, harmonious living and leadership – qualities that are so important in modern day society.”