Highly reputable club based out of Marrickville, Sydney, Dunbar Rovers FC entered two teams into the 2024 Kanga Cup competition for the first time. Their U9 Shield side went undefeated conceding just three goals in five games on their route to the Grand Final, also growing and learning together whilst loving the whole experience.
They took a fierce Kemps Creek United squad all the way with an extra-time penalty, unfortunately being their downfall. Despite the defeat, this Dunbar team are confident that they have an abundance of positives to take away from Canberra and their debut Kanga Cup campaign.
“This has been a great challenge for all the kids and for me this is also a new thing as it’s the first cup where I’ve been coaching,” said Matheus Picoli, head coach of Dunbar Rovers U9’s team. “We’ve become a group of mates here as we had three new guys join us last week and they’re already a big part of the group.”
“We play like family in this team and like I said, those three guys they have already become a brother for the kids, each pushing the other which has been good to see.”
“We fight for each ball, and I always say to the kids we’re just once chance from a goal, they all try to keep their mind on the positive things, not the bad, we try to push each other for that,” added Picoli. “They need this experience in a strong cup and challenge where the kids grow well, facing new teams.”
The Rovers are one of the biggest clubs in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Football Association with over 860 members in both male and female competitions from ages 5 to 65+. They also operate in two separate entities after Football NSW allowed them entry into the NPL competitions for the 2015 season when forming ‘Dunbar Rovers NPL’. For nine years they have had seven teams compete against some of the best NSW has to offer with squads starting from U13 and going into first grade.
Both have found immense success in their respective histories with large emphasis on youth development and cementing a welcoming family-friendly atmosphere.
“There’s an amazing culture which is new for me as I was at another club in Sydney and when I come to Dubar I experience, new players, new actions and new challenges,” commented Picoli. “I’ve been in soccer for 27 years and here I’ve really experienced something different as everyone’s trying to help me grow all the time and it’s been good for my coaching.”
“We can say that we’re trying to bring a Brazilian style for this club with big focus on youth and we’re always trying to give all kids the best coaching and hopefully into the NPL and always trying to improve all things for them.”
Picoli’s U9 side are hopeful to return at the 2025 edition of the Kanga Cup where they will be seeking to go one further and lift the trophy.
Words: William Rumgay
