World Footy News

Over the years there have been numerous players make the trek down to Australia to play their chosen sport of Australian football.  The experience invariably leaves them a far better footballer thanks to the higher standard and continuity of weekly training and playing.  It's also a great life experience, and all the better if they can obtain work and become embedded in the local culture.

With all that in mind Australian Jaye Macumber (pictured on right of photo), coach of Canada's Northwind at the 2011 International Cup, is calling for more international players to make the move and he's willing to help.  He's especially enthusiastic about the prospects of locating them with country clubs which are often able to offer employment and need players.

 

Examples of how players have been helped in the past include Ken Sato from Japan who has been offered a place with the Horsham Saints Football and Netball club.  Club President Roger Sordello wrote to Sato on advice from Macumber and while we won't publish it all here, he made it clear that the club will assist, but he was also honest that there's no guarantees with jobs.

We are willing to help you with a type of sponsorship $. But it will not be a full scholarship. The money we can offer you will go towards your flights; as well as helping you apply for your VISA.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/417/

We will assist you in finding full-time employment. However; it might be difficult initially- we can assist you with getting job interviews; but then it will come down to your interview, etc. and also if you like the kind of work you will be doing. It can sometimes be difficult to find the perfect job- and as such- as you are an International; employers can sometimes be hesitant to employ someone who has no-ties to Australia and can easily fly home; if home-sick.

Other information included training and ground details, and:

The cost of living in Horsham is very low compared to Melbourne. Your rent in Melbourne might be $300 per week… while is Horsham you would pay around $100 per week to live in a nice house.

The Horsham Saints  football club will help you organize a job, accommodation a mobile phone (if you have an unlocked phone you can bring it with you from Japan), internet access, etc...  and the Horsham Saints team manager will come to the Melbourne Tullamarine airport and pick you up in the car to drive you to Horsham.

We have a very strong group of coaches and a very good junior football training program (under 13 years, under 15 years and under 17 years of age players). You can assist with the junior program as well; if you would like to compete in more than 2 training sessions per week.

And then the Horsham Saints will make sure you have a warm bed and a nice meal... and a cold beer once you arrive in Horsham.

Horsham in 290 kilometres west of Melbourne. We can help you organize visits to Melbourne to watch AFL games live at the MCG.

Feel free to email me with any questions Ken. I hope to see you as a dominant Horsham Saints player in 2013; as we win the Premiership trophy!

 

Macumber is now back in Australia himself, in the position of Manager Community, Business & Economic Development, Yarriambiack Shire Council, in the north west of Victoria.  He told worldfootynews.com:

I am confident an International Aussie Rules footballer exchange program could help fill a broad range of professional skill deficiencies across our region; whilst also offering valuable footy experience to International players keen to develop their all-round game leading into IC 2014; or any international player who just wants to improve his footy.

I realize people who have passionately embraced Australian Rules football around the globe are looking for opportunities to pursue the game at a cultural; as well as sporting level.

Wimmera-Mallee communities and football clubs are well placed to attract international imports and will provide a great “footy and netball club” experience that maybe an International footballer would not get in the larger Australian cities. Particularly as in the country; people are treated as "people"; with genuine empathy being in place related to home-sickness etc.

Also due to many clubs suffering from player shortages- an International player would get greater on-field game-time and more opportunities for one-on-one coaching and would also have less "Big City" distractions so he could focus on his footy development.

In the country- all training venues are within walking/ bicycling distance- so less issues with public-transport therefore meaning more time can be spent actually practicing the game of footy. It is also a cheaper cost of living in country Australia.

I believe the key to establishing an exchange program would involve pin-pointing regional skill shortages, developing connections between businesses, communities and the presidents, coaches and team-managers of International AFL teams and then finding a ‘good fit’ with a player and then working on ways of fulfilling visa requirements.

I have experience in helping bring Internationals to Australia before (links below) and I know that with my experience I could assist any International Aussie Rules player in getting set-up for a stint of playing footy in country Australia.

So for any international football player (who satisfies the visa requirements) who has dreamed of heading to Australia to soak up the game and have a working holiday, this is surely an invitation worth exploring, and it's not too late for the 2013 season.  Jaye Macumber can be contacted at jmacumber@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au

Other stories exploring this concept include:

http://www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au/blog/2012/10/24/sherrin-skills-concept/

Canada sending youth to Australia

http://www.theaussiex.com/aussie-x-participants-head-to-australia/

http://lafootyconfidential.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/myk-aussie-interviews-canada-co-coach.html

http://www.hamptonrovers.com.au/news/news.php?newsid=1101