World Footy News

Brian Clarke, General Manager of Aussie Rules International, has announced that a proposal for ARI to stage an exhibition match between a South African side and an Australian Indigenous side at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique has been accepted by the Games organisers.

The match is planned to take place in the first week of the All-Africa Games (also referred to as the African Games), which will start on the 3rd of September, and would be played in the National Stadium in the Mozambican capital, which has a spectator capacity of 42,000.

When contacted for comment by WFN, Mr Clarke said that ARI is currently seeking sponsors for the project, but he is confident that the required funds will be secured.

Mr Clarke declined to give details on who would be playing, managing or coaching the sides in the match, although he stated that he is currently in contact with a number of different organisations in Australia to select an Australian Indigenous team, and that the South African side would be selected next month.

When contacted by WFN, AFL South Africa operations manager Joel Kelly indicated that the AFLSA is not in any way connected with the All-Africa Games project.

The match has received some coverage in the mainstream Australian media, including this article in Melbourne's The Age newspaper, and this article on Fox Sports.