Mirabella Cup pathway for FFA Cup

Football Federation Victoria has announced the scheduling for the Mirabella Cup semi-final fixtures, which are set to take place on Wednesday night.

In the vein of the celebrated FA Cup competition, the Victorian cup version will encompass neutral venues for the relative clubs, with the final to be played at AAMI Park.

There has been no definite confirmation of the time, although it is believed that the final will likely be held on Saturday afternoon at 4pm, with a curtain-raiser to precede at 1pm between Ballarat Red Devils and Cobram Victory.

Northcote City have indulged in a memorable week, amid gracing the honour of the VPL Gold Medal winner – Jason Trifiro – while young prodigy Kristian Konstantinidis won a contract with the inaugural Melbourne Heart youth team. The club will be seeking to continue its vast fortune when it meets VPL champions Green Gully Cavaliers at Olympic Village.

If the Cavaliers can win the Mirabella Cup prize, their name will be cemented in the FFV history books by claiming the illustrious Victorian treble – VPL Minor Premiers, VPL Champions and the Mirabella Cup.

Meanwhile, the other cup tie will see Oakleigh Cannons lock horns with the Melbourne Knights at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex. The match is positioned to be an enthralling contest, with both outfits eager to win a place in the final.

Both fixtures are positioned to kick-off at 7:30pm.

Despite the disappointment and turmoil that surrounded the Mirabella Cup earlier in the season – with the prohibiting of Victorian A-League affiliates Victory and Heart from participating – overall the state-wide knockout competition has been a strewed success.

Cup football is certainly a unique facet within the beautiful game, and unquestionably holds a place inside the Victorian football landscape.

It gives the opportunity for clubs to test their temperament against opposition in unfamiliar surroundings from divisions that may not be accustomed to.

We’ve witnessed fairytales come into fruition, particularly Cobram Victory’s, the outfit situated in regional Victoria. They made soundwaves around the Victorian football community, and also gained publicity nationwide, following their exploits to reach the final 12, only to be humbled by the former NSL champion Melbourne Knights.

The underdog tag in cup football habitually gains the support across the football spectrum. Fans love to see clubs from the lower divisions in the football pyramid challenge their higher ranked opposition.

With the fulfilment of Victoria’s version of cup football, a prospective national cup competition is currently in development. Gossip surrounding the proposed FFA Cup competition is gaining in-roads within the governing body, amid extensive market research and planning.

The FFA have previously stated their desire for the cup competition to commence around the March time-frame, with the finale on Australia Day the following year, making it an annual event in the Australian sporting environment. It is unknown whether the tournament will inaugurate next year or the following season.

Many questions still remain on how the format will take place, potential sponsors, television coverage and how teams will be eligible to qualify for the main draw. Although, momentum is beginning to cultivate amongst the football community and amongst the respective state federations.

It’s imperative that all respective outfits are be eligible to enter the FFA Cup, right down the pyramid cycle – from amateur, state leagues, right through to premier league clubs.

The objective of the FFA Cup is to engage local communities from around Australia in an effort to engulf support from the grassroots all the way through to the peak tier in Australia – the A-League.

We want fans to embrace the A-League and become integral supporters of the domestic game. Competitive competition will assist in building the bridge between the relative state confederations and the national governing body.

There’s no hiding the fact that many clubs of the defunct NSL have been left with a sour taste in their mouths following the manner their respective clubs were treated post 2004. Whilst representing their teams proudly in their relative state competitions, the FFA Cup will provide them an opportunity to once again be at the forefront of Australian football.

The phantasm of community clubs locking horns with the A-League elite is a sight many fans will be eager to witness. In many respects, the Mirabella Cup was a perfect occasion to test the waters, to see the reaction from fans and how the whole turn of events was embraced from the wider community, although due to peculiar reasons, the FFA’s back flip didn’t let this come into place.

Uncharted waters, is what confronts the FFA. Will the proposed national competition assist the game in its development, community engagement and ultimately allow the game to further prosper in tandem?

Only time will tell. Let’s hope the FFA employs the correct strategic plans and further nurtures the game in the correct conduit.

Courtesy of Goal Weekly – Twitter @RobertDiFabio