Melissa Barbieri celebrates 25-year professional milestone

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Australian footballing legend Melissa Barbieri celebrated 25 years of football over the weekend.

Having captained Australia to their 2010 AFC Asian Cup win, and been a part of four Women’s World Cups with the Matildas, Barbieri has experienced an incredible footballing career that doesn’t appear to be slowing down. She is continuing to shine for A-League Women’s side Melbourne City, who currently sit in second place on the table.

“I want girls to play for longer. I want every girl to be able to say, ‘I can play the game that I love for as many years as ‘Bubs’ did’,” Barbieri told Network Ten following City’s A-League Women win over Western Sydney.

“I continue to play because we have got a start, with a good CBA and girls can actually play the sport that they love for a good wage, a decent wage, but we’re not where we can be.

“I want to be able to say to all those little girls out there that want to play soccer for Australia: you can play anywhere in the world, not just for Australia.

“That’s the hope for me. 2023 is going to open up a lot of doors for a lot of people, not just in the game where you’re playing it with the ball at your feet but in administration, in leadership roles, in so many positions.

“Women just need to put their hand up and want to be a part of it and I can’t wait to see where this game grows in the future.”

The occasion marked 25 years since Barbieri first lined up for Victoria Vision against Canberra in the Women’s National Soccer League on February 7, 1997. Since then, she has earned 93 caps for the Matildas and has enjoyed a spectacular career in the domestic competition where she is the oldest player in the A-League Women’s at 41 years old.

It is especially remarkable considering Barbieri began her career as a midfielder, before transitioning to life as a goalkeeper in 2000. And after sitting out 2016-17, Barbieri came out of retirement, and has gone on to become a crucial cog in the City Women’s A-League side this season.

“It’s amazing – you can’t explain how important she is for everyone in the dressing room. Every time someone has debuted for our team, she brings flowers to the girl the next morning. She’s not just a player, she’s not just a mentor, she’s a mother as well,” coach Rado Vidosic said.

“To have her with us, I hope she’s going to stay when I’m 70, so another 10 years and she can be part of this. It’s really remarkable what she has achieved.”

Rebel Sport teams up with Auckland FC

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Image credit: Top Athletes NZ Instagram

Auckland FC and Rebel Sport have entered into a partnership that will make the renowned Kiwi sports retailer the club’s new sponsor for training kits and the AFC development centre.

As New Zealand’s hub for sports, Rebel Sport is dedicated to motivating all Kiwis to engage in sports, particularly by fostering participation at the grassroots level. This partnership represents one of the ways the company demonstrates its commitment to supporting both professional and community sports.

The Rebel Sport logo will be featured on all Auckland FC training kits worn by players and coaching staff, and Auckland FC players will be featured in Rebel Sport promotions across stores, online platforms, and broadcasts.

This year, Rebel Sport introduced a new Grants program available to grassroots sports clubs. Additionally, the company sponsors three young women through the Tania Dalton Scholarship Programme, including footballer Farina Anchico. These initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to encouraging and supporting greater Kiwi participation in sports.

Rebel Sport Managing Director, Rod Duke, expressed his delight about this deal.

“We’re delighted to be there from the start to help launch Auckland FC. We stand behind grass-roots sports as a business and we’re proud to help provide pathways for up-and-coming kiwi football talent through the Rebel Sports AFC Development Centre,” he said via press release.

“This is a partnership that we are excited to be a part of. The momentum and excitement that surrounds Auckland FC, and not just in Auckland, is phenomenal. With so much excitement and so many people playing football it offers a lot of opportunities for both brands.”

Auckland FC CEO, Nick Becker, expressed pride in joining forces with Rebel Sport for their inaugural season as both the training kit sponsor and talent development partner.

“Rebel Sport are an iconic New Zealand business who are passionate about football and helping to create talent pathways for young footballers. They have been at the forefront of NZ sporting business and have helped to inspire many generations of talented sports stars,” he said via the clubs website.

“Right from the first conversation, Rebel Sport have shown that we both have aligned values and the partnership feels very true to who we are as a club that is embedded in the local football community.

“It is a fantastic partnership, and it is great to see our players training and out in the community wearing their Rebel branded kit.”

Football is rapidly growing in popularity across the country, with over 165,000 registered players. Furthermore, 17% of those aged 5-17 have played football within the past week.

With only over a month remaining until the 20th anniversary of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men commences, Auckland FC are making a strong statement by partnering up with major companies for their first season who want to enhance community involvement through sports.

Adelaide United confirmed a new deal with 1KOMMA5° Australia

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Image credit: Adelaide United Instagram

Adelaide United confirmed a new partnership with 1KOMMA5° Australia, a global leader in decarbonisation and renewable energy, specialising in solar power, battery storage, air conditioning, heat pumps, and energy control systems.

Through this collaboration, 1KOMMA5° will serve as the official back-of-shorts sponsor for Adelaide United’s 2024/25 Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s season. Their logo will be prominently displayed on both the home and away shorts for the duration of the season.

1KOMMA5° aims to empower individuals to manage their energy usage by reimagining energy solutions. Their mission is to help people live sustainably by using solar and wind power indefinitely, encouraging energy independence over reliance on external sources.

As an innovator in renewable energy and sustainable air conditioning, 1KOMMA5° is transforming energy consumption by combining advanced technology with efficient systems for homes and businesses.

The company’s objective is to lower energy costs and move away from traditional energy sources by harnessing clean, renewable power.

The deal also improves the carbon footprint and sustainability of Adelaide United which is becoming more popular amongst football clubs.

With local expertise from Kozco Energy Group, based in South Australia and now part of 1KOMMA5°, the company continues to push its mission forward with a strong local presence supported by global leadership.

Directors Wayne Faranda and Danny Mudronja spoke on the partnership building the relationship between them and the fans.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Adelaide United. This partnership offers an excellent chance to strengthen our connection with the fans and support the Club’s efforts both on and off the field,” they said in a joint statement.

Adelaide United’s Head of Commercial, Fabrizio Petrone also commented on the partnership.

“We are delighted to welcome 1KOMMA5° as our back-of-shorts sponsor for the next two seasons. Having both a global leader and a locally rooted company on our kits is a testament to the strength of this partnership,” he said via club statement. 

In August, Adelaide United revealed their 2024/25 home kit, featuring the iconic red shorts, which have received great praise from fans.

This partnership represents Adelaide United’s mission to improve their carbon footprint whilst also securing important finances for the upcoming season and adding to their corporate portfolio with another local business.

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