Canberra United legends join mentorship group

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Canberra United
Image via Professional Footballers Australia

Canberra United legends Grace Gill and Caitlin Munoz are the latest pair to join the burgeoning United Coaching Support Group, with the former Liberty A-League Champions named as mentors for the upcoming 2022/23 season.

The pair have a well-established connection with Canberra United and its supporters, having represented the side in its formative years as a club. Both Gill and Munoz were involved in the very first season of Canberra United football, the 2008/09 campaign, where Canberra was defeated in the inaugural Grand Final.

They will join with former team-mates Ashleigh Sykes and Nicole Begg as mentors to a new generation of Canberra United talent as Head Coach Njegosh Popovich continues to build a core support network that bleeds green.

“It is with great delight that I welcome both Grace and Caitlin into our coaching support network for the upcoming Liberty A-League season,” Popovich said via Capital Football.

“They are both legends of the game here in Canberra and are fan favourites with our wonderful support base. They understand the game and are both winners having tasted what it’s like to win trophies for this club.

“They understand what Canberra United means to everyone involved in our football community and will bring vast knowledge of the game on a local, national, and international level. As with Ash and Nic, we will utilise that knowledge as part of our mentorship program throughout the season.”

Gill has been busy post playing career making her name in the media world with appearances across various broadcasters, including being a part of the 10 ViacomCBS team for the A-Leagues, but is pleased to be able to offer something back to the club that she graced for her entire A-League career.

“Canberra United, as a Canberran, obviously holds a place close to my heart and I am excited at being able to offer something back to the next generation of players making their name at the club,” Gill said via Capital Football.

“Njegosh is developing a very exciting project at United and the inclusion of some of the former playing group is a nice way to merge past with the present. I will do whatever I can to help this club and am hopeful that we are entering into an exciting new phase at Canberra United.”

Munoz, meanwhile, despite playing as a midfielder for most of her Canberra United career, was twice leading scorer for the club and racked up a ton of trophies at club level with the dominant Belconnen United squad, under the leadership of new United Assistant Coach Antoni Jagarinec.

“Canberra United have been a huge part of my football life and am delighted to be back helping them in this mentorship role,” Munoz said via Capital Football of her involvement back at the club she represented 83 times, scoring 21 goals.

“Everyone who knows me understands what this club means to me. I have been invested in it since day one, firstly as a player and then latterly as a spectator. To be back in green, in this capacity, is extremely exciting and I am looking forward to adding what I can to help us become as successful a team as possible.”

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From Classroom to Global Football: GIS Opens New Career Path

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has opened new opportunities for students who want to build careers in football. GIS has partnered with the World Football Summit (WFS). The partnership offers two exclusive scholarship and internship opportunities.

Students can gain practical experience while studying. They can also build industry contacts and learn how the global football business works.

Two Football Industry Roles

The first opportunity focuses on partnerships and commercial development. Students in the Partnership Executive Intern role will support WFS commercial activity. They will learn how football organisations build and manage partnerships.

The second role focuses on clubs, leagues and federations. The Club, League & Federation Relations Intern will support WFS relationships with football organisations. This includes key stakeholders inside football.

Both roles give students direct exposure to the business side of the sport.

International Experience

The placements also offer flexibility. Full-time students can complete a six-month internship or placement. WFS will tailor the experience to each student’s profile and availability.

Part-time students can complete two six-month placements. This gives them exposure to different areas of the WFS business. Students may work remotely or at the WFS headquarters in Madrid. The final setup will depend on the student and WFS requirements.

A Global Football Network

WFS has built a major international football network since its launch in 2016. The organisation has hosted events across 11 countries. More than 44,600 people have attended its events. Its network now includes more than 153,000 football industry professionals.

WFS events have also featured major football figures. These include FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Ronaldo Nazário, Rio Ferdinand, Didier Drogba and Javier Tebas. The partnership gives GIS students access to this wider football ecosystem. It also connects academic study with real industry work.

Applications Open for 2026

Applications opened on 18 August 2026. New and existing GIS students can apply. The deadline is 14 September 2026.

For students targeting careers in football business, the opportunities offer a direct route into the industry. They can develop commercial skills and can build professional networks. They can also gain experience with the relationships that drive modern football.

To learn more about the GIS scholarship program click the link here.

Football Has the Audience. Does It Have the Commercial Strategy?

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Image Credit: One Nil Media

Soccerscene has launched Survey 4: Commercial Confidence in Football, calling on clubs, sponsors, governing bodies, commercial leaders and football industry professionals to assess whether the game is making the most of its enormous commercial potential.

Football has the audience, participation base and community reach to be one of Australia’s most powerful commercial platforms. But does the industry have the commercial strategy, professionalism and infrastructure required to turn that potential into sustainable growth?

That is the question at the centre of Soccerscene’s latest industry research.

The survey examines how attractive grassroots football is to potential commercial partners, what industry professionals believe is limiting football’s commercial potential, and whether clubs are presenting themselves professionally enough to sponsors.

It also explores what sponsors value most when engaging with football – from community reach and participation scale to brand alignment, values and purpose – as well as whether improved facilities could directly contribute to stronger sponsorship outcomes.

Is football fully capitalising on its commercial opportunity?

Football continues to provide brands with access to highly engaged communities across grassroots, community and elite environments. Yet the commercial landscape remains fragmented, with clubs operating with vastly different levels of resources, capability, governance, media infrastructure and commercial expertise.

Soccerscene’s survey is designed to capture the industry’s perspective on where the opportunities exist – and where football may be leaving commercial value on the table.

The research will look specifically at four key areas:

  • Commercial attractiveness – How attractive is grassroots football as a commercial partnership?
  • Commercial barriers – What is holding football back from reaching its full commercial potential?
  • Club professionalism – Are clubs presenting themselves effectively and professionally to sponsors?
  • Sponsor value – What are sponsors really looking for when they invest in football?

The survey also asks whether better facilities would have a direct impact on sponsorship outcomes, highlighting the potential relationship between infrastructure, commercial presentation and investment.

Have your say

Soccerscene is encouraging football clubs, sponsors, commercial professionals, governing bodies, administrators, media professionals and industry stakeholders to participate.

The findings will contribute to Soccerscene’s ongoing program of industry research, designed to provide a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing football and the organisations operating within it.

Take the Survey: Commercial Confidence in Football

Complete the Commercial Confidence in Football Survey here

The survey will close on 30 August 2026 at midnight, with responses received before the deadline included in the final analysis.

Football has the audience. The question is whether it has the commercial strategy to match.

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