Key Factors:A joint initiative between the Australian and Colombian governments is rising Aussie Guidelines within the South America nation.As a part of that, three gamers have been awarded scholarships to play soccer in Australia for a season this yr.Former Sydney Swans’ captain Josh Kennedy is internet hosting one of many gamers in addition to serving to with coaching clinics.
Rising the game of Aussie Guidelines has include a number of challenges within the nation of Colombia, which embrace discovering ovals to play, and securing the objective and behind posts.
As a part of a joint initiative by the governments of Australia and Colombia, in addition to the Australian Soccer League (AFL), the game of Aussie Guidelines is being transplanted to the South American nation.
By means of the AFL’s Future Leaders program, the primary tranche of three Colombian gamers arrived in Australia not too long ago to play for the Fitzroy Stars in addition to to attend English lessons.
Based on Ben Hopwood, Deputy Head of Mission on the Australian Embassy in Bogotá, the plan is for these gamers to return to Colombia with the abilities and information to additional develop the sport there.
The Bogotá Bulldogs are a completely newbie membership devoted to establishing and rising Aussie Guidelines in Colombia.
Domestically, the membership splits into three groups for his or her home league: the Colombian Australian Soccer League (CAFL).
Then, as soon as a month, the groups play one another and the most effective workforce on the finish of every yr wins the CAFL trophy.
Travis Crockett, a former coach and participant with the Bogotá Bulldogs, mentioned the AFL Colombia initiative started “with a few mates kicking within the park”, to now rising to over 200 registered gamers.
From L to R: Alejandro Susa, Travis Crockett and Óscar Marina.
“A number of Colombians develop up surrounded by poverty, gangs, violence and footy offers them an opportunity to give attention to one thing optimistic. It is a neighborhood, a footy household and everybody’s welcome,” Crockett mentioned.
“There’s actually no restrict to how huge this sport can get in Colombia and throughout the entire of Latin America.”
Former Hawthorn and Sydney Swans’ participant, Josh Kennedy, alongside together with his household, not too long ago welcomed the three scholarship winners – EstefanÃa Gualteros, Alejandro Susa and Óscar Marina.
Kennedy mentioned his affiliation with Colombia started 12 years in the past when he met and married his Colombia-born spouse, Ana.
“It is an incredible expertise for them … EstefanÃa resides with us, with my household and kids in Glen Iris, and the three of them are taking part in footy right here on a workforce, working, and studying English,” Kennedy mentioned.
From L to R: Alejandro Susa, EstefanÃa Gualteros and Óscar Marina.
Kennedy has coached clinics for kids in Bogotá and attended a coaching session for the Bogotá Bulldogs.
“The most important factor for me is simply the enjoyment you see folks getting from the sport,” he informed Aussie Guidelines, The World Podcast.
“It’s actually cool to see that the sport is being performed and cherished on the opposite aspect of the world.”
After their stint in Australia, the three scholarship holders will rejoin their Colombian teammates and compete on the AFL Transatlantic Cup Regional Worldwide Event, which has changed the Worldwide Cup, in Toronto in August.
The match may also function Aussie Guidelines groups from Canada, the US and Europe.
Marina mentioned the concept behind the scholarship was, “… to develop from this and get my footy to a better stage so I can come again and educate all of my teammates.”
I do not assume there are phrases that may describe the fervour, the vitality and, above all, the respect that you simply see on this sport. On the sector we’re rivals, however off the sector we stay associates.
EstefanÃa Gualteros
Gualteros mentioned she had seen firsthand how passionate locals are about AFL.
“Footy in Australia is loopy,” she informed SBS Spanish.
“While you’re in Colombia and also you watch footy on the display screen, you assume ‘OK, it is a cool sport demanding totally different skills’, however while you arrive in Australia and also you expertise it, and play it, it feels (much more) (multi-)dimensional.”
For Susa, his soccer expertise in Australia has generated surprises in addition to some humorous moments.
For instance, the big dimensions of the taking part in area in Australia had resulted in him standing within the flawed place throughout one in every of his early video games with the Fitzroy Stars, he mentioned.
Each Susa and Gualteros mentioned soccer had opened up many new pathways for them.
Footy gave me life, which for me means mild on many paths. Sport modifications completely all the pieces.
EstefanÃa Gualteros
“I really feel that sport is the strongest hyperlink, probably the most strong bridge, to attach nationalities, cultures, abilities, and above all, to offer alternatives to understand desires,” Gualteros added.
Aussie Guidelines coaching in Colombia is ‘sophisticated’
Crockett, who has coached groups in each Bogotá and Medellin, mentioned the problem of instructing AFL in Colombia was that “you begin from absolute zero”.
“Youngsters have by no means seen it earlier than. (They may say:) ‘I do not know what this weird-shaped ball is, I do not perceive why if I miss the objective, I nonetheless get a degree’,” he mentioned.
“(So far as abilities go) operating backward while you catch a ball doesn’t come naturally for anyone. All of them wish to play on.”
One other problem was discovering a spot to play as fields have been nearly at all times devoted to the game of Affiliation Soccer, or soccer, in a nation with 4 million registered gamers, he mentioned.
The goalposts needed to be imported, he confirmed.
Probably the most satisfying side of growing Aussie Guidelines in Colombia was to have the ability to share the wonderful present and neighborhood that we obtained from AFL once we have been youthful, Crockett mentioned.
To take heed to the complete podcast, faucet the play icon on the prime of the web page.
