World Footy News

The recent Indigenous tour to South Africa was reportedly a great success and we mentioned that a key was for the AFL to continue that commitment. It was very pleasing that tour leader Michael Long recently announced that the Africans will reciprocate the tour with matches against an Aboriginal squad in Australia in 2007. The following report is from the AFL website and can also be found at the Northern Territory AFL's site under AFL Trifecta for Northern Territory.

AFL South Africa to play Indigenous Allstars in 2007

Michael Long, Vice Chair of the AFL Indigenous Foundation Speech notes - TIO NTFL Grand Final Function Saturday March 25, 2006 at TIO Stadium, Darwin

"In February this year I was lucky enough to lead 24 young Indigenous footballers from communities around Australia on an historic Youth tour of South Africa for the very first time.

It is with great pleasure that I would like to announce the continuation of this wonderful relationship between two of the oldest Indigenous cultures in history. The AFL and major corporate partner Tattersall's are proud to announce that Australia will host a team from AFL South Africa on our home soil in 2007.

There is little doubt that the recent tour made a lasting impact on our young Indigenous players, as much as it did on me personally.

Seeing is believing - having been there to witness the natural affinity their Indigenous people have for our great Australian game, I can now see how the AFL can make a real difference in their country - just like it does here in Australia through programs like AFL KickStart.

The blacks and coloureds in South Africa have as much natural ability as our kids do - when we conducted clinics we soon realised that they can play our game and play it well - the only thing they lack is the opportunity to play.

Since 1997 AFL South Africa has been chipping away at developing the code in the North West Province. At last count there were 3000 players participating in regular competitions with 4 local staff and 2 Australian volunteers employed.

In the short-term, the AFL is seeking to build the participation base in South Africa to 10,000 by 2008. Longer term we are looking to establish South Africa as the third country with Ireland, in the International Tri-Series at Under 17 level. Who knows where this could lead to from there?

These are lofty aims but with 46 million people living in South Africa and about 80% of the population black or coloured, the opportunity to grow the game is enormous.

The recent tour was as much a life experience for our Indigenous Youth as it was about football.

Our boys visited Soweto near Johannesburg, where the people of the shanty township take great pride in what they have, not worrying about what they haven't got.

We walked inside the walls of Robben Island Prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years locked away and we learnt about patience and self-belief along the way.

We watched as 24 young Indigenous men made new friends from around Australia and across the globe.

We listened as future Indigenous leaders like Darwin's Joseph Anderson stood proudly before his peers and spoke of how the tour made him realise that we should never take anything for granted.

And we cheered as the South African team grew in stature over the 3 games they played against our talented Indigenous youth side. Whilst they struggled to match our skill level, they certainly lacked for nothing in terms of endeavour, sportsmanship and character.

Next year, It is likely that the touring South African team will visit Indigenous communities and sacred places like Uluru and Kakadu in a unique cultural exchange that is sure to do wonders for the game on both sides of the Indian Ocean.

The highlight of the tour will be a curtain-raiser to the AFL Indigenous Allstars match to be played at the newly-named TIO Stadium - an experience I am sure that none of them will ever forget.

If I can leave you with one thought it is this.

Although this opportunity is about so much more than football, please remember that football created this opportunity."