Maroubra United Football Club (MUFC) is no stranger to the Kanga Cup — especially U11s Coach, Anthony Rizzo.

Based out of Coral Sea Park in Sydney’s east, Maroubra United is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit club committed to providing affordable access to football while maintaining quality facilities.

The club prides itself on fostering athletic development and community engagement, with a clear emphasis on “football for all.” That ethos is reinforced by a strong track record in player pathways into the NPL.

Coach Rizzo believes the Kanga Cup aligns closely with the values of the club, offering a platform for player development and unforgettable memories and Rizzo makes it clear that the club approaches the tournament with a competitive mindset.

“Our club has brought in five to six teams,” he revealed. “The kids are keen to do it, parents travel down. There’s a community aspect for sure. We play very well in Sydney, and this comes as a test of other states.”

The timing of the Kanga Cup — midseason for most clubs — brings its own set of challenges. For the Maroubra U11s, it’s an unfamiliar situation: losing games.

“The Kanga Cup resets where we are as a team. We’ve been almost undefeated at home and now in our pool we aren’t doing well. It lets us know where we sit against the rest of the world of U11s soccer,” Rizzo stated.

Despite the setback, Coach Rizzo emphasises that results aren’t the only markers of progress. For his young squad, learning to manage loss is a crucial part of long-term growth and building a winning culture.

The Kanga Cup, he says, has provided valuable perspective — not just for players, but for coaches as well.

“Because you go back home knowing how good you really are or not,” Rizzo admitted. “It resets some of the minds of teams. It lets the boys know that sometimes you do lose, just navigating those emotions right now.”

Words: Ella Hewson