Football is a game for everyone, and anyone should have the right to play, and NPL3 club Ballarat City is leading the way in allowing greater participation within their community.
On the last matchday of the NPL3, Ballarat City’s Diversity Round made a return in their clash with North Sunshine.
The club held an African-themed day with music and food throughout the day with the help of f Football Victoria (FV) and the Australian Human Rights Commission with Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan involved.
Ballarat City Football Club general manager Stacey Berland said the event aimed to create awareness and tell the stories of the refugees at the club.
“We wanted to show why it was really important to have these players at our club,” she said.
“Not just this club but this sport because this is the world’s game.
“We have such a diverse range of people who play this game, and we should celebrate it.
“We are trying to create awareness of acceptance no matter what your background or culture is because we all deserve to play the game and shouldn’t be put at a disadvantage for any reason.”
The idea for the Diversity Round started in 2017 when then there was a group of African boys at the club who wanted to play but couldn’t afford the costs.
“I was speaking to Julie Barkly – whose husband Michael was on the board at the time and when she found out about the 15 very talented young men who couldn’t afford to play, she tried to give them support and find sponsorship for the boys to play,” Berlund recalled.
‘Julie said to me that people just don’t care, but I replied that it’s not that people don’t care it is that people just don’t understand the struggle.”
The day was very successful for the club as they were able to avoid relegation with a 3-0 victory over the sixth-placed North Sunshine Eagles.
“North Sunshine loved the event, they were so engaged and even want to replicate it themselves,” Berlund said.
“There was a genuine excitement after the match, it was a thrilling 90 minutes.
“Managing to get away from the relegation spot was amazing for the club, the boys were up for the fight.”
On the day, Ballarat City wore a jersey designed by Tanzanian-born player, Charlie King.
“My mother’s tribe is the Masai tribe, and they are one of the largest and well-known tribes across Tanzania and Kenya,” King said.
“The masks that make up the print are traditional Masai masks used in celebrations, initiations, and wartime preparation.
“I added the Black Panther symbol because it is a great pop culture reference that ties in with the Diversity Round.
“Just like football, the Black Panther movie gave us something that all ages and backgrounds could enjoy.”
FV head of diversity and inclusion Nick Hatzoglou who encouraged Ballarat City to bring back the Diversity Round said celebrating cultural diversity was “very important” for social cohesion.
“The beautiful game of football is at the forefront of this effort and Ballarat City has championed cultural inclusion in regional Victoria since 2018,” Hatzoglou said.
“Investing time and effort towards embracing cultural diversity is a wonderful thing, particularly in a multicultural society where we all have a role to play in our social cohesion.
“Ballarat City Football Club through Stacey Berlund were able to bring together Luna from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Mehmet President North Sunshine Eagles, Chin Tan Australian Human Rights Commission - Race Discrimination Commissioner and all the players and spectators.”
To continue allowing all players can play football in the region, The Ballarat City Football Club has started the Refugee Player Participation Program.
The program ensures all players regardless of their ethnicity, culture, religion, or other socio-economic challenges they may face have the chance to participate at the NPL level.
This project aims to raise funds to support local players of refugee backgrounds to play the game they know and love.
If anyone wants to support the cause: Ballarat City Football Club - Australian Sports Foundation (asf.org.au)