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Gold Coast United FC head coach and director of football, Miron Bleiberg (centre) celebrates with Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO Ben Buckley (right) and Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink (left). AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Earlier this week, I opined about the lack of creativity in the A-League’s managerial and administrative ranks. Now, with the news that South Melbourne FC are on the verge of being included in this year’s Singapore FA Cup, I know where most of football’s most creative and brightest have ended up.
In the state leagues.
In an article running on the au.fourfourtwo website, Aidan Ormand reveals that: “the idea has the support of the Singapore FA and that the historic move could be signed off within days,” with Football Federation Australia backing set to follow on Monday.
First it was a player exodus from Australia to Asia and now it seems whole clubs are heading abroad in search of better opportunities.
South Melbourne Chairman Nick Galatas told Ormand that: “We believe this is a positive for Australian football as it strengthens our nation’s links within our own confederation the AFC.
“At the same time it gives clubs outside the A-League an opportunity to compete in a new competition – that’s exciting for the players and no doubt will be embraced by our fan-base.
“It will strengthen Australia’s second tier clubs and therefore strengthen our state leagues. What’s more, we don’t yet have an FA Cup style competition or a B-League here in Australia.”
South Melbourne’s “out of the box” thinking doesn’t stop there, either.
Currently the former NSL club are giving away double passes to their final game at Bob Jane Stadium for anyone who is interested.
Not only will this initiative increase one off attendance and potentially help to lift future crowd figures, it’s also a sign of a proud club acknowledging its past. Something our national governing body has regularly failed to do.
Add in South’s impressive online presence, including podcasts, social media activity and live game updates, and there’s some exciting and creative thinking going on behind the scenes at Bob Jane Stadium.
Let’s get back to the Singporean FA Cup idea, though.
While it might seem a little odd for a Victorian club to be seeking a higher level of football in South East Asia, with FFA more or less ignoring the desire of club’s like South Melbourne for better football opportunities, why shouldn’t they?
My only gripe is that our former NSL clubs have been so neglected by FFA that there’s become a need for them to head overseas in search of greener pastures.
Its becoming clear that FFA’s focus on all things “World Cup” is starting to come at the expense of the game’s health back home.
So as FFA puts aside its national cup competition concept to focus on World Cup bids and campaigns, and while football fans around the country continue to clamour for a knockout competition, South Melbourne have sourced their own alternative.
Brilliant.
Ben Buckley it’s over to you.
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