Australia’s Tim Cahill celebrates after the World Cup group D soccer match between Australia and Serbia at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, Wednesday, June 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Last Friday something remarkable happened in Cape Town. I was sitting at a pub basking in the sunshine after the Netherlands had defeated Brazil, with a number of friends from the Australian media who are sticking out the tournament in South Africa.
As we sat along the Cape Town waterfront enjoying a drink, a middle aged man walked by with an Oranje scarf.
Hardly a remarkable occurrence considering the amount of Dutch fans that had based themselves in Cape Town except, this scarf wasn’t just orange, it also had the words “Brisbane Roar” written on it.
While the others around me started sarcastically singing “there’s only one Ange Postacoglou” I was focused on stopping myself from falling out of my seat in surprise.
I’d been in South Africa for 30 days, travelled to every Socceroos game, stayed in accommodation that was packed with Australians but this was the first piece of A-League merchandise I’d come across.
I’ve seen Bayern Munich tops, Evertonian colours, Atlético Paranaense scarves, “Come Play” beanies and even a vintage Collingwood Magpies jersey, but no Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC and certainly no North Queensland Fury representation.
It’s no surprise that a five-year-old competition, filled with brand new teams, hasn’t yet found the same kind of traction as the 110-year-old Bavarian giants that it’s fans feel obliged to represent their club even while supporting their national team.
Yet it’s also good to be reminded that Football Federation Australia left behind the game’s history when it launched the game’s brave new “it’s football, but not like you know it” dawn.
Meanwhile it took Adelaide United, currently still under the control of FFA, until 31 days before the new A-League season to find a new coach.
At the same time FFA CEO Ben Buckley was too occupied in South Africa spruiking its World Cup bid to keep much of a watchful eye.
However, for a change, I’m not going to blame Buckley or anyone else at FFA. Don’t get me wrong, the delayed process in finding a new coach for Adelaide United is another piece of poor management but the reality is the custodian of Australian football, FFA, is a small organization.
While it would be nice if they could at least ensure the few things they do tackle are done well, Buckley and co can’t do everything. Not yet anyway.
It’s why I couldn’t care less for the “Australian football is on the rise” or “Soccer is still a lost cause in this country” articles.
Let those who want to enjoy populist hits online and newspaper sales duke out this dull tale.
There’s plenty left to be done to repair the damage of years of administrative mismanagement of football in Australia and all of us within the football community need to keep an eye over FFA during it. If you see something you dislike speak up. Open, transparent and healthy debate will help see the game fulfil the great Johnny Warrens words of “I told you so”.
The fact is I can’t wait to get back to Australia in a couple weeks and I’m as much excited to see first hand the birth of Melbourne’s second A-League club as I am at watching it’s predecessors duke it out in the Victorian Premier League.
Football is football and, in Australia, we’ve still got plenty of it. I saw a guy in Cape Town who reminded me of as much.
General Ashnak
Guest
To give an AUFC perspective on the appointment of a manager with fantasic credentials, we are totally cut up about it - for goodness sake we could have had the dizzy heights of Frank Farina grace us with his presence! Or any one of a number of high quality coaches, we missed out on Dave Mitchell as well and his record with PG speaks for itself! Oh the woe and misery, wailing and gnashing of teeth! As you can tell we are not upset about this. 4 weeks prior to the start of the HAL when we have been ably served by Phil Stubbins in his capacity of Head Coach (as in fact Rini wishes him to continue). Little point for you Davidde, did you know that Rini was also the business manager at his last club? He has come here to be the Manager of AUFC in the European sense, so we will also have a Head Coach in Phil - as in he will coach the senior team.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
You need to watch those pendanatics, tricky buggers. You think you've bought a plain chain yet as soon as you've slipped it around the girlfriend's neck it morphs into an 18th century pendant which clicks open tor reveal a nymph of classic beauty. You try to explain it to the girlfriend but to no avail, you're finished, gone, finito. Damn pendanatics.
Realfootball
Guest
"pendanatic"? A fanatical pendant, perhaps?
Phil H
Guest
Vidmar leaves Adelaide United 3rd June; new coach appointed 5th July. One month gap probably not ideal but I'm not convinced the lead time was as earth-shattering - or as damaging - as you're suggesting.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Rabbitz, thanks for letting me know what it takes to be a journalist. The error has been corrected.
David V.
Guest
You fail to take into account the challenge the A-League has had to face, in that it was born into a world where overseas football is readily accessible for the discerning fan on wider media outlets, both TV and Internet. Add to that, most Australian football fans have an overseas club (sometimes more than one) they've been following for years. It's hard to break that tradition.
nicholas
Guest
I saw a Sydney FC shirt on a fan on one of the telecasts of our trail games...
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Davidde, I am struggling to understand the sentence "Hardly a remarkable occurrence considering the amount of Dutch fans that had decamped in Cape Town". Decamped? Did they all suddenly leave? If so why was it not surprising to see an orange scarf? I know I am being pedanatic but if you want to be a journalist, then at least use the right words. Could you have meant encamped? or in fact staying?
Art Sapphire
Guest
Glad to be of assistance JF. Next week, I'll explain the offside rule to you. Oh....there goes the lunchbell.
Realfootball
Guest
I wondered the same thing - what is the point of this article? However, it was worth it just to read the post about the Glory kit on the Trans Siberian railway. Davidde, if we're going to talk history, were the finals in '74 awash with local Aussie club shirts? I think not. It will take time to build traditions into the A League, and I think progress has been good so far from a standing start 5 years ago. We must not lose sight of the fact that there have been bumps but overall the A League has been a success, and without it we have amateur state league comps. Think back to the NSL, and the Brisbane teams, and last season we had a failing Roar still averaging over 8k a game. Unimaginable in the NSL.
Dan
Guest
I'll see if i can get MVFC budgie smugglers... now THAT would be AWESOME
mahony
Guest
and mine - and that of my wife and son!
mahony
Guest
Fair comment IMO.
JF
Guest
What? Some people are more interested in the "event" than the actual sport being played? I would have never guessed.
mahony
Guest
more to the point - I am not sure if I have ever bee IN it!!!!!
Art Sapphire
Guest
Yes, realfootball, but usually, you have to be a fan of the sport to spend your hard earned to travel overseas. I can't see myself travelling overseas for the sole reason of watching the Wallabies, or the Australian Cricket team play. The people who do are fans of the sport. The World Cup is different. Some Aussies turn up because its a big party, just like the olympics, and just want to support the green and fold.
Towser
Guest
Dont know what this article is about. Went to see the Strikers win the 1997 Grand final. Couldnt see a Strikers shirt in sight. Arsenal,ManU, AC Milan,Boca Juniors,Colo Colo etc. Largest set of massed colours in the ground Sydney United. All these clubs have one thing in common a history. The A-League is trying to create some. Give us a break lad. What does this line mean/indicate? "Yet it’s also good to be reminded that Football Federation Australia left behind the game’s history when it launched the game’s brave new “it’s football, but not like you know it” dawn." Whats it got to do with A-League club colours at the World Cup? Lost me.
Realfootball
Guest
I watch international cricket and rugby union, but I don't follow it below that level. There is always additional interest for sport at elite level. Only to be expected and I welcome it, personally.
Cpaaa
Roar Pro
A little off topic but related, I saw A-Mart all Sports selling original Brisbane Roar jerseys for $70. thats a good deal for any Roar fans out there.
PM
Guest
Most surprising place I've seen an A League jersey was during the telecast of this year's first State of Origin. When they crossed to a Harvey Norman store to show off the 3D cross promotion, a kid who had just watched the game was wearing a Mariners shirt. Nice sabotage, I say