Sport
14 November, 2025
Tournament experience for footballers
MORE than 250 players from Football South West and the Limestone Coast competed in a tournament in Hamilton last weekend.
Saturday’s tournament saw teams from across various age groups, ranging from under 10s through to senior men and women, compete in 11 matches throughout the day.
While Limestone Coast was successful across 10 of the 11 matches, the majority of the defeats were close contests.
The under 14 boys were defeated 1-0 while the under 13 boys finally succumbed in a penalty shootout.
The under 12 development team was defeated 3-5, under 12s lost 3-1 and the under 15s went down 2-0.
Limestone Coast also dominated the under 16 boys and girls teams, however south west’s Zander Mibus still made it onto the scoreboard for Football Southwest with a powerful strike that resulted in an own goal.
The girls’ under 13 match showed huge promise for future years, with Football Southwest’s newly-formed team (in just its sixth ever match) facing the recently crowned South Australian State Champion LCFA side.
Despite being defeated 5-2, Football Southwest scored two goals.
Players of the match for Football Southwest across the tournament were:
Under 10 Hudson Malady, under 12 development Archie Coxon, under 12 Steph Van Den Heuvel, under 13 Aidan Guerrero, under 13 girls Mackenzie Rocka, under 14 Isaac Green, under 15 Tanaka Paradza, under 16 girls Zahra Francis and under 16/17 Austin Hlatini.
The senior teams, formed only a few weeks prior to the tournament, performed strongly despite Limestone Coast being the favourites to win.
The women’s team, coached by Simon Perrin of Port Fairy, was level at two goals each with only several minutes left, and both teams were making preparations to play extra time, when LCFA found a way through and scored from wide.
The game finished with a 4-2 scoreline, with the two deciding goals scored in the final three minutes.
The senior men’s team, coached by Elijah Macchia (Warrnambool Rangers) performed strongly, and the scores were level 1-1 at the break.
CFA found a way through shortly after the second half commenced, holding the lead for the remainder of the match.
In Football Southwest’s standalone victory for the day, the under 10s performed strongly against a highly physical LCFA, winning 3-2 with stellar goals to Dustin Irons, Harry Newbury, and Hosea Kerekere.
Football Southwest representative player coordinator Melissa Condo said she felt the inaugural event was a success.
“We expected LCFA, being a larger and long-established competition, to be extremely competitive, and this was certainly the case across all teams,” she said.
“It’s wonderful hearing the first thing players and coaches saying after a match is ‘for next year, can we do, or can we try…’ you know then that the event’s gone well.
“Ultimately, that’s what our purpose behind the event is all about – creating greater opportunities for young people to play competitive sport, and building connections between our local clubs, and neighboring associations.”
It appears the South West representative program is heading in the right direction, with a long list of players receiving under 14 (and older) NPL contacts for 2026.
Several younger players have also been invited to train with talent identification and development programs with Football Victoria throughout the year.
“By creating opportunities for these kids to play in tougher competitions, these players are able to push themselves further and able to be noticed more,” Ms Condo said.
“They’re able to keep their training up continuously through the year, rather than taking six months off to play another sport.
“While we are sad to see them move up to other competitions, it is so encouraging to see these results coming through now, and to know that we are building the right foundations at our youngest age groups, to give them future opportunities like this.”
While the date is yet to be set for the 2026 Cross Border Cup, Limestone Coast will take on the host role for next year.
