World Footy News

The Adelaide Crows have embarked on a program to encourage recent migrants to South Australia to become invovled in the great Australian game. Supporting other local football teams in the initiative, the AFL club recently invited thirty African children to a training session and tour of the facilities at AAMI Stadium (formerly Football Park).

Despite the clear reign of Aussie Rules as Australia's number one sport in income, television ratings, attendances and participation (in terms of registered players), it has been obvious for some time that recent migrants have not embraced the sport as much as might be expected. New programs in Victoria have begun under the AFL and Football Victoria to introduce newcomers to the game. Similarly in South Australia the Adelaide Crows are working with the Kilburn (SA Amateur League) and North Adelaide (SANFL- state league) clubs.

The children are from Sudan, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with many escaping with their families from civil war. The program is called "a Sporting Chance" and is also an initiative of Lutheran Community Care. The program runs for two years and is funded by the South Australia Government Office for Recreation and Sport. Australian Football has been played in SA since at least the 1870s and is a major part of the state's culture, so it is good to see that such a position is no longer being taken for granted.

For the full story, see African kids visit Crows by Jill Moss (April 26th 2006) on the AFC's website.