Some 100 lucky children took home some lifelong memories on Sunday after spending the afternoon at a clinic with a host of Qantas Socceroo stars in Melbourne.
Some 100 lucky children took home some lifelong memories on Sunday after spending the afternoon at a clinic with a host of Qantas Socceroo stars in Melbourne.
For over an hour children from the Optus Small Sided Football program in Victoria, having won the opportunity through a promotion, had the opportunity to have a kick-around with their idols.
The Qantas Socceroos have been assembling over recent days in Melbourne for Wednesday-s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia at AAMI Park.
Among the players in attendance at the clinic were Australia skipper Lucas Neill, David Carney, Sasa Ognenovski and Michael Thwaite, as well as the FFA-s National Community Football Ambassadors, Brett Emerton and Heather Garriock.
“It-s great to be able to see the kids enjoying their football,” said Emerton. “For myself, it-s great to see the smiles it brings to the kids- faces.”
“It seems like it was yesterday that I was their age and running around with dreams and aspirations of representing my country. I have been very lucky to do that, so hopefully I can give back something to football in this country.”
Emerton also encouraged all registered players and clubs cross the country to utilise the MyFootballClub website. MyFootball Club is Australia-s biggest online player registration system and registered 100,000 players in its first month of operation for 2012.
“It (registration) is very important because we all want to be on the same page and striving to achieving together and it will great for football here in this country,” Emerton said.
The database and clinic are part of FFA-s ongoing increased engagement with grassroots football.
