Football program kicking goals for Indian communityThursday, May 25, 2017 - 9:25 AM

Kids from an Indian background between the ages of 5 and 12 got given the opportunity to learn the basics of football as part of the inaugural Indian Society of WA (ISWA) Kids football program.

The six-week program, developed by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) in partnership with the ISWA, is the first of its kind in Perth.

It aims to expose Indian communities in WA to AFL and connect them to their local football club.

More than 45 participants took part in the program, which was delivered at Burrendah Park (Willetton) and Hilcrest Reserve (Bayswater) over six Sundays.

WAFC Community Development Manager Isaac Stewart said the program provides a range of benefits for kids of Indian descent.

“The program has been designed to provide kids of Indian descent with exposure to NAB AFL Auskick, whilst building a sustainable connection to junior clubs in Bayswater and Willetton,” Stewart said.

“ISWA Kids provides a suite of different benefits including cultural exchange, fitness, skill development and social interaction.”

The program received fantastic feedback from the parents of the kids who participated.

“It is a great initiative to provide a platform for our kids to learn Australian footy,” Reka Manoharan said.

“I commend the ISWA and WAFC teams on their great communication and hard work.”

ISWA Assistant Treasurer Jacob Solomon said the program has provided an unforgettable experience for all the participants.

“The training has been a source of inspiration and helped the participants develop sportsmanship and an awareness of the importance of physical fitness among kids and parents,” Solomon said.

“Through the training, most kids and their parents got an opportunity to socialise with each other and develop new friendships.

“The kids gained an understanding of the sport and the techniques of the game, which has motivated them to keep developing their footy skills through further training.”

Tarun Dewan, ISWA Committee Member, commended the WAFC on the quality of the coaches it provided.

“The coaches were simply amazing in their handling of the sessions and built a very effective rapport with the kids, and as a result, most kids never missed a session,” Dewan said.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the WAFC and hope to grow this program at a state level in the future.”

Isaac Stewart said the WAFC aims to expand the program next year in hope to reach more Indian communities.

“The WAFC will be looking to expand the scope of ISWA Kids in 2018 and pique more interest in AFL on a broader scale with more than 40,000 people of Indian descent residing in WA,” Stewart said.