Bankstown City Lions Women’s Football praised by Member for Bankstown
Tania Mihailuk, the Member for Bankstown, Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Youth, Volunteering and Healthy Lifestyles recently did a speech at NSW Parliament on Women’s State League side Bankstown City Women’s Football.
On 22 March this year I had the pleasure of attending the launch night of Bankstown City Football Club’s inaugural Football NSW Women’s State League teams. I acknowledge also the presence at the event of the Federal member for Blaxland, Jason Clare. I was delighted to attend the launch night not only in my capacity as the member for Bankstown but also as the shadow Minister for Youth and Volunteering. Prior to the commencement of the 2013 season, the Bankstown area did not have an elite representative female team in the Football NSW Women’s State League competition. In October 2012 this changed when Football NSW sought to expand its women’s competitions, giving Bankstown City the opportunity to participate for the first time. I am very proud to report that Bankstown City Football Club had a very successful inaugural season. The women at Bankstown City represented their town with pride and distinction with three out of five teams making it to the competition finals.
I take this opportunity to congratulate the under 14 girls, who were unlucky in losing their grand final to the University of New South Wales, but they did make the grand final; the under-16 squad, who made the preliminary final; and the First Grade Women, who, unfortunately, were eliminated in the grand final qualifier by the Western New South Wales Mariners. Organised sport offers many significant benefits to young people. It encourages camaraderie, teamwork and discipline. Participating in sport also has many mental health benefits such as helping to lift self-confidence and self-esteem. When Debbie Abboud, Troy McColl and the board at Football NSW decided to bring women’s football to the city of Bankstown, it provided a platform for our talented local girls to shine.
Kiara De Domizio, who is a 12-year-old striker, scored 15 amazing goals in her first season of elite football. I am sure her father, Frank, is still proud of the extraordinary goal she scored in the last minute of the game in Bathurst. In the past, Annalisa Smith, a tough 14-year-old midfielder, has had to play in local boys’ teams. She and her team had a standout season. The highest praise must go to Samantha Muscat, the captain of the club. She is not the tallest player but she has a big heart on the football field and is an inspirational young woman. Samantha has won the Golden Boot award in first grade football after scoring 25 goals. Her leadership skills have been an inspiration not only to fellow teammates but also to many young girls in the club who look to her as an example to follow.
When it comes to youth sport, the parents and families also need to be commended. Parents drive their daughters to training sessions and Sunday games across metropolitan Sydney and to country New South Wales. It involves a great deal of effort and the parents and families must be proud of the success that these talented young women have achieved for football. A special congratulation goes to all of the volunteers at Bankstown City Football Club who have made everything possible. I acknowledge the tireless efforts of hardworking people such as Louise Genc, Doreen Grimbilos, Ross Anderson, Peter Nowakowski, Dejan Stezovski, George Mladenov, Mendo Petkovski and the rest of the executive committee.
I am acutely aware of the significant amount of time that volunteers put into the administration of community sport. It would not be as successful across Bankstown and New South Wales without the amazing contribution of volunteers at all levels, whether it is in administration, canteen duty or coaching and training the girls. I commend all the volunteers for ensuring that Bankstown City Football Club had a very successful inaugural women’s football program. I hope it has an even bigger season in 2014.
