With a proud legacy as one of Australia’s oldest football clubs, Adamstown Rosebud FC continues to invest in grassroots development, returning to Canberra once again for the Kanga Cup –a tournament that offers both competitive exposure and meaningful growth for young players.
The Rosebuds, whose history stretches back to 1889, brought six teams to this year’s Cup, including all of their Junior Development League (JDL) squads. For Under-10 Girls Coach Mark Kawa, the annual trip is a fixture on the club calendar.
“It’s an enjoyable tournament that we like to do at our club,” Kawa reflects.
“Our club has been coming down for about four or five years now. This year we have six teams, and we brought all our JDL teams. This cup is something we enjoy doing and get a lot out of, and you can see the development when we get back especially how quickly it translates.”
While praising the experience and opportunity the Kanga Cup provides, Kawa also sees room for thoughtful adjustments — particularly in helping younger players translate what they’ve learned in regular season play into the tournament setting. Kawa, continues to explain how that might befit his age group.
“The only thing that could come into play is to try and make it more realistic to how the girls play in their regular competition,” he suggested. “An element like a blatant offside rule ho help prevent the habit of doing a kick and chase.”
The shift from 7-a-side to 9-a-side can also be a challenge for players at this age group who are still grasping the structure and flow of the game.
“For this age group, this format can make it harder for them; they go from playing 7-a-side to then play 9-a-side. Which can be difficult for them to grasp in a short amount of time. They can still develop and play decent minutes with the games this tournament provides.”
Still, the Rosebuds see the tournament as an essential part of their development model — offering new environments that test young players’ adaptability and skills.
“We come down here to play more games and get more development,” Kawa revealed, “It can be a bit hard when you and your opposing team just loft it, as it can take away from the rhythm they are used to. But it exposes a new style.”
Adamstown Rosebud FC’s participation in the Kanga Cup speaks to the club’s broader value — those of respect, long-term player growth, and integrity, as outlined in their governance framework. With a clear emphasis on both competition and learning, the tournament continues to serve as a valuable space for growth.
Words: Ella Hewson
