Sunday Soccer is the latest football initiative which is bringing people from all walks of like across Perth.
Founded by student Mani Ghadiri, the program helps people connect and bond through social, non-competitive football at the sports grounds of Murdoch University.
Since it was first founded, Murdoch’s Sunday Soccer has grown from a kick-around in the park to a Facebook community with over 250 members. The program has also expanded to Visby in Sweden and is sponsored by local sixth-tier Swedish league side Visby AIK.
Since August 2015, Sunday Soccer has hosted mini-tournaments at the grounds with players from a wide range of nationalities.
The initiative has helped many footballers make friends in Perth, including footballer Dani Waard who said Sunday Soccer helped him establish himself in Perth.
“When I came from Spain, I didn’t have many friends,” said Dani.
“Sunday Soccer permitted me to enhance my networking and friends and everything.
“That helped me loads man!”
Murdoch Sunday Soccer Promotion Video from Lai Chun Matthew on Vimeo.
The program is social in nature and intends to stay separate of the competitive club division pressure. Regardless of ability level, Sunday Soccer is designed to help players improve and get their weekly exercise in a fun and relaxed environment.
Despite being small in stature, the program caught the eye of two sponsors in its early days. Along with Murdoch University, Perth Glory is a proud sponsor of the event, providing the group with bibs, decorative banners, goal posts and cones.
“The Sunday Soccer’s program success is driven by volunteers and individuals who are extremely passionate about playing football with their friends” said Glory’s Community Department Manager Callum Salmon.
“Mani has done an absolutely splendid job in providing an enjoyable environment where people from many different backgrounds and nationalities can get together, socialise and play some recreational games.
“Perth Glory FC is happy to support this volunteer based organization as it encourages everyone to play, enjoy themselves and it also provides a great service to the community.”
Murdoch Sunday Soccer is in action every Sunday evening from 6 to 8pm at Murdoch University’s sporting fields in Murdoch.
You can join in the action too; contact sundaysocceroz@hotmail.com to get involved, or visit the Murdoch Sunday Soccer group by clicking here.
