The Hurstville City Minotaurs Soccer Club have travelled to Canberra with one team to participate in the Kanga Cup for the first time this year! The team joins the competition from Sydney, New South Wales.
The Hurstville-based club was established in 1985 by the Cretan Greek community in the area, where they were a part of the “Business Comp” that played each Sunday morning. In the years since, the club has now increased to 20 teams who play in the St George Soccer Association, as well as the second division of the NSW State League.
John Augoustis has accompanied the under 11’s Female Cup team to the Kanga Cup this year. Despite it being their first time in the competition, this young group of girls embody all aspects of what it truly means to be a part of the event.
“The tournament has been around for a long time, it’s probably been around since I was a kid,” Augoustis shared. “It was something for these girls, who are grassroots girls, who aren’t apart of any SAP [Skills Acquisition Program] program. These girls have the determination and a willingness to run and fight for their win, and that is what they have done.”
“It’s the first time we have been here, and we are beating SAP teams. It’s not an easy thing to do. I’m playing under 8’s girls, and they are playing in the under 11’s. I’ve got some under 11’s girls, but I also have under 10’s, under 9’s and under 8’s. That’s why this is so special to us,” he added.
When asked what his team of girls have enjoyed the most about the Kanga Cup this year, Augoustis responded with one simple answer…
“Competition.”
Augoustis highlighted that the reason he and the team decided to join the tournament this year had nothing to winning, but everything to do with development.
“Progress, achievement, and establishment. The girls now know they are established with a high league within their age group,” he shared.
John Augoustis shares nothing but admiration for his team’s attitude and effort during their time here in Canberra. He is truly proud of everything that this determined group of individuals has been able to achieve.
“These girls, they have stepped up to the next level. This is a life experience that they will never forget,” he said. “To be an association team in the St George leagues club, to come and mingle with an Australian wide tournament, with girls who are in under 11’s paid full-time SAP programs, they have got something special.”
Their coach believes that the tournament has provided an environment for these young girls to understand and unlock their fullest potential. They had been pouring everything into their preparation for this week and their results certainly display that.
“My goal, it’s not to win games. My goal is to push these girls to their limit.” He added. “To push them so that they can understand that they can go higher and higher. It’s all in the mind, that’s what it is. These girls have done laps after laps, they’ve done beach trainings, have gone through and endured my training regime and it shows when they keep fighting, when they continue fighting and that is what determination does.”
Their enthusiasm and charisma are most certainty what the Kanga Cup loves to see. With any luck, the Hurstville City Minotaurs will return to Canberra once again next year, maybe even with a few more of their teams!
Words: Kate Reedy
