New zones and naming conventions announced by Football Queensland

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The past weekend saw Football Queensland announce three new zones to be established and functioning alongside fresh naming conventions which are a greater reflection of their strategic direction and geography.

Metro North and Metro South are set to replace the former Brisbane Zone, while Far North & Gulf has replaced the former Far North and North West zones.

The three new zones are FQ Metro South, FQ Metro North, and FQ Far North & Gulf. They will now join FQ South Coast, FQ Darling Downs, FQ Sunshine Coast, FQ Wide Bay, FQ Central, FQ Whitsunday Coast and FQ North in making up Football Queensland.

Football Queensland Chief Executive Officer Robert Cavallucci stated that the establishment of new zones and naming conventions will improve FQ’s efforts to achieve a better alignment of strategy and outcomes for football.

“The new zones and naming conventions are designed to better reflect the broader geography of the areas and present a more inclusive reference to the wider regions they represent,” he said.

“The boundaries are drawn in such a way as to align with Football Queensland’s strategic priorities. For example, the new Far North & Gulf zone will provide FQ and clubs in the north with a better strategic position to access, service and promote football to Indigenous participants and communities in the Cape.

“Importantly, the names of the zones more closely align with Queensland Government region naming conventions, as we present a united voice for increased investment in football.”

FQ President Ben Richardson was excited at the arrival of the new zones and projected a bright future for football in Queensland as the game continues its journey of reform.

“The creation of these new zones has been approved by Football Australia and is the result of months of close consultation with our stakeholders,” he said.

“I look forward to working with the new committee members as we continue to drive critical reform across the state.”

New FQ Members include Keiren O’Brien and Michael Falchetti for Far North & Gulf; Marty Buttigieg and Rob Rossi for Metro North; and Paul Swindells and Rob Scanlon for Metro South.

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Off the Pitch Podcast: Cisco’s Expanding Role in Australia’s Sports and Entertainment Infrastructure

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Credit: Allianz Stadium

Cisco’s footprint in Australia’s sporting landscape is growing rapidly, with the tech giant playing a key role in modernising stadium infrastructure across the country.

Cisco Systems, Inc. is a leading global technology company, founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California.

The company focuses on designing, developing, and delivering networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and a wide range of advanced technology solutions and services used across many industries worldwide.

With a strong international presence, Cisco has played a vital role in shaping and supporting digital infrastructure across Australia’s sports and entertainment sector, helping major venues stay connected, efficient, secure, and ready for the future.

In episode seven of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch podcast, Regional General Manager at Cisco Manny Spanoudakis shared insights into the various projects Cisco has been involved with across several stadiums in Australia.

“I guess if we just focus on the Australian market, there’s an abundance of projects we’ve been very fortunate to have great success with,” he said on the podcast.

“If I start in Perth, I guess, and work my way east, Optus Stadium is a major project, we’re just doing a major refresh there after the original opening in 2018, Adelaide Oval, another major customer of ours.

“Then as we come up into Sydney, I guess, we’ve got the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz Stadium, Accor Stadium up here as well, so that’s off the top of my head, the type of large venues.”

Spanoudakis also highlighted the wide range of projects Cisco has been involved in throughout Melbourne.

“The Melbourne Cricket Ground just underwent significant and is still undergoing significant technology upgrades. It’s a project and a customer we’ve worked on for well over a decade,” he said.

“Marvel Stadium, the Melbourne Olympic Park precinct, the VRC in Flemington, Kardinia Park and GMHBA Stadium and Melbourne Racing Club.

“So there’s a very strong, we have a very strong customer base in Melbourne.”

To hear and learn more about Cisco, you can listen to the full interview with Manny Spanoudakis on episode seven of Soccerscene’s Off the Pitch Podcast, available on all major podcasting apps and here.

5th AFC Coach Education Conference Sparks a Brighter Future

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Image Credit: AFC

The 5th AFC Coach Education Conference wrapped up successfully on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reaffirming the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) commitment to boosting the performance of Asian teams on the world stage.

Over three days, the conference featured a series of engaging presentations addressing key topics essential to advancing coach education programs across the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs).

Under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Coach Education,’ the event kicked off on Tuesday with AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh delivering a keynote speech titled ‘Tomorrow’s Coaches’. His address sparked a lively dialogue among attendees, setting a collaborative tone for the conference.

Day two began with a comprehensive session on the UEFA Coaching Convention’s membership criteria, which included discussions on running national coaching courses and increasing the number of female tutors within MA coaching structures.

This session led to in-depth conversations about the unique needs of each association, the value of practical learning, diverse leadership approaches, and embracing new technology.

A standout moment was the panel discussion on the ‘Emotions in Football’ initiative, featuring experts from Qatar Football Association, Aspire Academy, AFC grassroots development, and the Education 4 Peace Foundation. The panel emphasised the vital role of social responsibility within football.

Head of Coach Education at the Football Association of Singapore and former Bolton Wanderers defender, Hasney Aljofree, praised the conference.

“It’s been a fantastic few days with top-tier information sharing. The collective knowledge exchange clearly shows what we are working to achieve together,” he said via press release.

“Having played professionally and now working as an educator, this conference supports my role as football evolves — especially with the pressures players face today through social media and constant public scrutiny.”

The conference also offered an opportunity for coaching tutors to receive updates on the AFC–Japan Football Association Women’s Pro Diploma Course, currently progressing towards its final module.

The final day featured presentations from Saudi Arabian Football Federation Technical Director Nasser Larguet and Football Association of Ireland Head of Coach Education Niall O’Regan, who shared their experiences and sparked further vibrant discussions.

Coach Education Instructor at Football Australia, Faye Chambers, reflected on the conference’s impact to the program.

“The AFC Coach Education Conference has not only enabled us to exchange ideas but also hear of success stories which undeniably motivate MAs in improving their existing programs,” she said via press release.

“Moreover, a lot of work is being done to empower more women coach educators through exclusive courses, and the impact can clearly be seen, as over the years, more and more women are taking up leadership roles in football, which is a clear indication of the progress being made on the Continent.”
This conference not only strengthens coach education across Asia but also paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for football in the region.

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