Talented young footballers from Indigenous and multicultural backgrounds featured in a Victorian Diversity All-Stars game on Wednesday.
The Victorian Diversity All-Stars matches involved boys and girls footballers from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds who either feature on Coates Talent League lists or have been involved in talent pathways programs.
Players are considered to be from a multicultural background if they have a parent born outside of Australia.
The games showcased Vic Metro against Vic Country in a double header, with the girls starting the action before the boys afterwards.
Werribee Centrals’ Giselle Lambley, Maribyrnong Park’s Jade Cilla and Caroline Springs Mira Diab represented the Western Jets in the girls match.
Sam Esokni (Altona) Alex Tsia (Hillside), Noah Eldebs (Keilor), Edwin Nyembo (Werribee Centrals), Isaac Abbay (Hillside) were the boys Jets representatives.
Calder Cannons’ Lara Churchill, Jasmina Curtis, Alannah David, Michaela Chalboub were part of the girls squad, while Shane Clough, Adam Sweid, Hussien El Achkar, Tristan Leeds and Divjot Singh were part of the boys Vic metro squad.
Northern Knights’ Emma Pyle, Chloe Kodagoda, Tahlia Pyle, Stephanie Rozario, Teresia Koliavu, Isobella and Avaa Hishongwa-Gibb, Seth Hudson-Joseph, Daen Brown, Degfie Romari, Milun Fernando were part of the metro squads.
Victorian talent manager – country, Lee Fraser said the Victorian Diversity All-Stars matches have been introduced this year to provide another opportunity for emerging young footballers from diverse backgrounds to put their talent on display.
“The program not only provides a platform for players to showcase their skill and test themselves against talented peers, but to also support the development of participants as footballers and people.
“Players can take the learnings from the Diversity All-Stars match and put them into practice at their respective Coates Talent League programs and community clubs.”
Jacara Egan (Victoria Metro) and Mel Hickey (Victoria Country) coached the girls sides, while Harmit Singh (Victoria Metro) and Paul Corrigan (Victoria Country) coached the boys sides.
