World Footy News

Indonesia has gone through a huge change over the past 3 to 4 years in regards to the energy sector which has led to a great number of expats leaving Indonesia and particularly from Balikpapan, the center of energy in Indonesia.

Back in earlier days the expat players would invite their Indonesian national drivers and office staff down to training and consequently fund them to local tournament tours, it was expats that formed 90% of the club players list and membership.

However, The Borneo Bears through a number of methods with great support and perseverance from the Bears Committee, has survived the exodus of expats and the Bears have turned their player list around which now constitutes approximately 90% Indonesian National players and continues to grow.

Through a great deal of dedication and commitment supported by the Bears President Tommy Commerford and Bears Coach Shane Kruger and the Bears National players stepping up to the plate by inviting their family, friends and co-workers down to training and along to games and join in learning and playing this fantastic but still foreign game of AFL.

One of the major highlights for 2015 which was organized and championed by Tommy Commerford and Shane Kruger, was a cross country AFL development agreement between the Borneo Bears and the Darwin Waratah’s whereby the Darwin Waratah’s have invited 4 of the Borneo Bears National players to Darwin to join the Waratah’s to train and play in the 2015-2016 NTFL season.

With this, the Borneo Bears wish to further support and be a part of and continue to grow with AFL Asia and will continue to develop this great game of AFL throughout the local community. One of the missions for 2016 and of course will depend on internal fundraising, is to tour a 100% Indonesian Borneo Bears team to the Asia Champs 2016.

Source; AFL Asia