Football NSW and CORE Community Services deliver successful ALDI MiniRoos Settlement Program

Staff Writer

The recently established ALDI MiniRoos Settlement Program, organised by Football NSW together with CORE Community Services has become quite the success story.

A statement from the Football New South Wales can be found here:

Fifty-one kids including 13 girls of newly arrived Iraqi, Syrian and Jordanian families from the South Western Sydney communities registered to participate in a modified ALDI MiniRoos Kick-Off Program.

Its purpose to provide children between the ages of 4 and 11 who have experienced adversity in their lifetime with the opportunity to learn and play football.

The introductory program based at Ultimate Soccer in Fairfield embraces football as a way to endure the social challenges they face in the community.

It helps kids stay active, make friends and learn English on the go, while coaches teach them the fundamentals of football so they too can fall in love with the game.

Through the ALDI MiniRoos Settlement Program, the kids received a bag and ball bearing the Western Sydney Wanderers’ logo, shin pads, a water bottle and stickers in their participant packs; while the coaches were also provided with a delivery kit, inclusive of pop-up goals, cones, bibs, etc.

It’s a gesture of goodwill to encourage them to continue with their active lifestyles outside the program and practising football, while giving the kids some added responsibility, to bring the ball to each session.

Hind, a mother of 3 boys involved in the program was delighted to be offered an avenue to football for her kids.

“The program is great because it brings everyone together and there is a real sense of community.”

Football NSW’s Game Development Officer – MiniRoos, Kevin Guardado Amaya​, accompanied by Fouad David, a Fairfield Bulls Coach and daughter Mariam, delivered the recent program with the help of other Football NSW Community Coaches.

Before arriving in Australia from Syria in July 2016, Fouad coached at a high level with Al-Khabur SC and played as a goalkeeper but ultimately his passion was to become a goalkeeper coach.

While, Mariam is an active participant in Fairfield High School’s Football 4 Development and Football NSW’s Community FC programs.

This year she joined Bossley Park Football Club after connecting with Catherine Cannuli, the Women’s Technical Director at SDSFA (Southern Districts Soccer Football Association).

Mariam’s dream is to one day become a professional football and play for her beloved Matildas but knows the difficult road ahead and the dedication it takes.

CORE Community Services’, Aylin Yokhana is the lead case worker for the ALDI MiniRoos Settlement Program and initially started the football program with the help of the Telskuf Association and Fouad and Mariam.

Football NSW through the connections with various migrant resource centres then contacted CORE Community Services and eventually combined to provide additional resources in coaching, equipment, field hire and football packs for the kids with all the essentials.

 

MiniRoos Coaching Certificate

After the success of the first ALDI MiniRoos Settlement Program, CORE Community Services again linked up with Football NSW to organise a coach education night for adults on Thursday 1st August.

The event was held at Fairfield Hotspurs’ home ground at Prospect View Park and assisted by CORE representatives and the Telsfuk Association for the purpose of translating.

Football NSW’s Kevin Guardado Amaya delivered the program, where coaching experienced varied from never having coached before to an Olympic Football Team coach.

Once certified, participants will hopefully take up coaching at their local clubs next season.

For more information on ALDI MiniRoos Football visit miniroos.com.au

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FQ Reinstates WinterFest 2026 at the Sunshine Coast

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Image Credit: Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed WinterFest, the state’s premier junior football carnival, will return to the Sunshine Coast from 1 to 5 July 2026; this time at a new home in the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, the five-day carnival will span USC and Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC, hosting Under 9 to Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls teams from every corner of the state.

WinterFest is not simply a competition. Within FQ’s development framework, the carnival serves a dual function, to expose elite junior players to FQ Technical staff, whilst providing emerging referees with live matchday experience under the guidance of senior officials.

“The carnival plays an important role in nurturing not only our most promising young players, who can showcase their abilities in front of FQ Technical staff who continue to monitor their ongoing development, but also our cohort of emerging referees from across Queensland,” said Ryan Fett, FQ General Manager- Football, Infrastructure & Club Development.

The shift to USC is deliberate. FQ has signalled an intention to elevate the event experience year-on-year, and a university campus venue, with its infrastructure and capacity, reflects that ambition more than a traditional football ground would.

Beyond the Pitch

The tournament’s footprint, however, extends well beyond the pitch. With thousands of visiting families descending on the region across five days, WinterFest functions as a significant economic activation for the Sunshine Coast during what is otherwise a quieter winter period.

“WinterFest brings enormous energy to the region, the USC and Buderim fields will be buzzing and the talent on show outstanding,” said Sunshine Coast Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg.

The language- “Resilient Economy”- is worth noting. Landsberg’s portfolio title alone signals how local government now frames junior sport: not as community goodwill, but as economic infrastructure.

His reference to Brisbane 2032 made that explicit. “As we move closer to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these experiences are invaluable for aspiring athletes and equally important for boosting local tourism and supporting our businesses during the winter period.”

Whether a regional Under 11 carnival genuinely feeds an Olympic pipeline is debatable. What isn’t is that the political incentive to frame it that way, with 2032 drawing every level of government into the orbit of sport, is very real.

Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

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