Fitzroy Tigers Futsal Club's Jimmy Soufis has been shortlisted for the Gallagher Community Coach of the Year, as part of the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards.
Finalists across 18 categories have been announced for the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards (VSAs), an event that recognises and celebrates the achievements of our home-grown sporting heroes at both a grassroots and high-performance level.
Soufis expressed his humility at being a finalist for the Gallagher Community Coach of the Year award, acknowledging the prestige of the honor and the caliber of past winners.
"It's an honor to be nominated for such a prestigious award with so many credible winners in the past," he said.
The esteemed Futsal coach initiated a series of strategic actions to promote equality and respect at the Fitzroy Tigers Futsal Club, while also establishing a set of clear, non-negotiable values communicated from the onset to all members.
He also implemented equal training opportunities for male and female players that included even access to coaching, facilities and pitch time through an adaptive and open-minded strategy.
The Gallagher Community Coach of the Year finalists include Chris Allen (Rugby Union), Manuela Dalla Costa (Athletics), and Tina Keown (Tennis), showcasing the diverse talent and dedication within Victoria's sporting community.
Vicsport Chair Ritchie Hinton said it was "extremely pleasing" to see the great number of nominations that were received for the event.
"It is a wonderful showcase of the successes throughout our Victorian sport and recreation industry," he continued.
“My thanks to the esteemed panel of judges who embraced the challenging but rewarding task of deciding finalists and winners and I look forward to honouring those recipients at the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards in June.”
To select the finalists and eventual winners from these nominations, 37 highly qualified people from the Victorian sport and recreation industry were invited to constitute this year’s judging panels.
The 2023 Victorian Sport Awards will be held at Marvel Stadium's Victory Room on Wednesday 12 June 2024.
Soufis commenced full-time employment at Football Victoria in February 2024 as the Futsal & Schools Coordinator on the back of his efforts in the space.