Western United to fight hunger with new partnership

Liam Watson

Western United FC has signed a charity partnership with Foodbank Victoria ahead of the 2020/21 A-League season.

Western United have committed to spread awareness related to food insecurity in the state across each of the club’s channels.

Players, staff and members of Western United will have the opportunity to volunteer with Foodbank Victoria to fight hunger in Victoria. Foodbank Victoria are the state’s oldest and largest food relief agency and are based in the western suburb of Yarraville.

Aligning with Western United’s club values, effort and togetherness, this partnership ensures that Victorians in need get the support they require when faced with food insecurity.

The reality is one in five Victorians face this issue, which has ramped up in recent weeks due to the Covid-19 crisis. Foodbank Victoria’s charity partners have reported an increase of up to 50%.

“As a football club, Western United FC is still so young being in our inaugural year of the A-League. The team has worked hard on the pitch, but off the pitch we’re working just as hard to build a club the west will be proud of,” Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis said.

“This partnership is a solid step for us on that journey.

“The work Foodbank Victoria does, the commitment to the issue of hunger, it’s second to none. Together we’ll combine our strengths and build a partnership that will help fight the hunger crisis.”

Western United say that there is no better time to unite with Foodbank Victoria in the fight to stop hunger.

Photo Credit: Western United Football Club

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Football Australia backs AFC calls for FIFA governance reform

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Football Australia has backed calls from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for stronger governance, transparency and accountability at FIFA.

Pressure continues to grow on world football’s governing body following the collapse of its controversial commercial proposal.

Football Australia said it supports the AFC’s position that the events of recent weeks should be met with “clear and credible action” to strengthen FIFA’s governance systems.

The Australian governing body said its priority was a “transparent and appropriately independent process” to establish what happened, why it happened and where governance, communication and decision-making processes fell short.

The statement follows a joint call from the AFC, UEFA and CONCACAF for greater accountability within FIFA after President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to create a commercial entity involving the sale of stakes in World Cup-related assets was abandoned.

The episode has since triggered a wider governance dispute in football, amid mounting calls for structural changes within FIFA.

FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier argued that the organisation needs sweeping governance reform rather than simply a change of leadership.

Football Australia stopped short of explicitly calling for Infantino’s resignation, instead aligning itself with the AFC’s broader call for institutional reform.

“Football Australia will continue to engage actively and constructively with and through our Confederation, the AFC, and alongside our fellow Member Associations as this process progresses,” the governing body said.

The position gives the AFC further backing from one of its major member associations.

FIFA faces an increasingly public and volatile debate over how power, commercial decision-making and accountability should operate within the global game.

Infantino remains in office and is seeking re-election, with the next FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

GIOCA and Avondale FC partner to honour club’s Italian heritage

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Image credit: Avondale FC

In an announcement made via social media this week, GIOCA revealed Avondale FC as its latest club partner.

 

Shared heritage, common goals

Both GIOCA and Avondale share Italian identity and heritage, with the NPL Victoria side embracing its Italian roots since its beginnings in 1984.

Founded by Italian immigrants, Avondale FC (then known as “Keilor I.C.K.A.”) became a cornerstone of the Avondale community following a relocation in 1999.

And now, over 40 years since its founding, Avondale will honour its past with a partnership built for the future.

Teaming up with GIOCA – a brand established by footballers, for footballers – kicks off an alliance which combines a respect for history while bringing clubs and kits into the modern game.

“We’re excited to partner with Avondale FC to design, develop and deliver their Teamwear as they prepare for the upcoming Australian Championship and the 2027 NPL Victoria season,” GIOCA said via social media.

“A powerhouse club with a proud Italian heritage, this partnership hits close to home.”

“It was only fitting that we launched it surrounded by people, culture and traditions that connects us to our heritage.”

 

Announcing a special type of Teamwear

The shirts which represent the clubs we love all hold a deep history. They connect us to a team’s beginnings and the values which brought them to where they are today.

Therefore, establishing a kit designed and developed by both GIOCA and Avondale demands respect for the shared Italian culture underpinning both organisations.

In a unique photoshoot to promote the new kit release, players from both the men’s and women’s team were captured not in the glitz and glamour of the pitch, but in the ordinary settings which mean the most to the community.

Photos showed players in a garden enjoying a game of ‘scopa’, as well as in a bar alongside coffees and special editions of La Gazzetta dello Sport.

It is partnerships such as this which truly capture the attention of fans and players alike. The creative announcement reflects an important part of the club’s culture, and demonstrates that history and the future are not so distant after all.

Click here to see the official announcement on GIOCA’s social media.

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