After just six games together, a Keysborough-based team of young, talented footballers were setting themselves for an “opportunity of a lifetime”.
Playing under the banner of Australia Youth, they were to strut their stuff in front of a big AAMI Park crowd – including possibly A-League scouts – in the U-Nite Cup final on Australia Day.
The game was a curtain-raiser to a Melbourne Victory-Sydney FC blockbuster.
It’s a massive step up for most of the players aged 17-25 years old from Dandenong, Keysborough, Springvale South, Cranbourne and Frankston.
They’re coached by Gavin Ithier as part of his visionary Future Footballers Project.
Ithier set up the project to give disadvantaged children the chance to play the sport he loves.
He hopes to offer ‘scholarships’ to 10 kids aged six-and-up to play for community clubs, as well as 100 hours of free clinics for many more budding players in the South East.
As a 12-year-old, Ithier’s former club Springvale City gave him a golden opportunity to train in Japan.
His promising career was later cut down by a series of bad-luck injuries – four knee reconstructions in five years.
But for many young footballers, their opportunities are being curtailed by exorbitant registration fees, he says.
“Kids just can’t afford to play.
“I wanted to do something to help the kids – to keep them active and off the streets.”
Assistant coach Roy Kilner says a few of the Australia Youth players have the raw talent to play A-League.
“But to make the step up to the A-League they usually have to go through the (second-tier National Premier League) system.
“And they have to find $2000 for that.”
Even at lower junior leagues, the $400-plus fees per child are beyond many family budgets.
The aim of the project is to give a positive and active environment to nurture youth, Ithier says.
“We want to engage the little kids and hopefully develop a love of soccer.
“We want to provide training as well as free food and tutors beforehand – some of these kids don’t have three meals a day.”
Sponsors are required to get the project up and running.
Details: 0421 604 171 or follow on Facebook ‘The Footballers Project’.
