Consistent Kanga Cup title challengers, Kemps Creek United have once again made the trip down from Sydney to compete in the tournament. The team has a successful history at the event as last year they captured the U11 Open Shield in a 3-1 victory over ACT based side Tuggeranong United.
This year the club has sent three sides including an U9 Open Shield team who will get their first experience in playing at an interstate competition such as the Kanga Cup.
“I’ve had this group of boys since they were in sevens and I’ve been talking about taking them to tournaments for a while,” said Paul Maiorana, coach of Kemps Creek U9 squad. “The big one we were always looking forward to was the Kanga Cup and now we’ve got to the minimum age of nine I said boys, let’s go, we’re going and they love it, I love it.”
The Kanga Cup provides a special chance for people who grew up participating in the tournament and have then become coaches, to return back to Canberra and be enthralled by the experience all over again like Maiorana.
“I’ve played here myself when I was younger, I played in the U12’s, 13’s, 14’s, 15’s and then I was going to play in the 16s but COVID obviously happened and then as I’ve gotten a bit older, I got into coaching.”
Although coach Maiorana is confident in the ability he has at his disposal within his team, he also wants his players to treat the Cup as a valuable teaching opportunity.
“I think it’s a good learning experience for these boys, they are a pretty strong squad and also doing well in their comp back in the Southern Districts,” explained Maiorana. “All my boys are competitive, so they need to learn how to lose as well as how to win.”
“I definitely think learning how to deal with different results is one of the main things I want them to take away because at such a young age I remember myself being upset when I was in Canberra,” Maiorana added.
“I remember my first tournament we got knocked out in the semi-final and I was in tears on the field, so it will be good to pass on some experience to these boys that there’s always going to be next year and in football sometimes you have to take the highs with lows.”
“These boys are pretty competitive so we’ve obviously set out to win it but they know that I’m proud of them either way,” commented Maiorana.
Kemps Creek United actively takes pride in operating as a non-profit organisation and club with prominent family orientated values, encouraging friendliness and collaboration.
“I would describe it as somewhat of a family club mixed in with high focus on youth development and obviously, we carry with that a winning mentality,” mentioned Maiorana.
His side have gotten off to an excellent start in Pool B after defeating Monaro Panthers 5-2, Wagga City Wanderers 6-0 and holding Belnorth to a 1-1 draw. They face Easts FC in their final group game.
Words: William Rumgay
