Bringing ten teams to the Kanga Cup competition this year, the Tuggeranong United Football Club are a Canberra based club who had been looking forward to all the fun that the event has to offer!
Tuggeranong United are located on Canberra’s south side, providing footballers in the Tuggeranong Valley and surrounding areas a place to call their home of football. Ranging from a non-competitive MiniRoos team, all the way through to their National Premier League, their player base of over 800 footballers makes them the largest sporting club in the Tuggeranong Valley, and one of the largest football associations in the ACT.
The under 16’s Female Cup team that the Tuggeranong side have brought to the competition are truly soaking up the three “F’s” that the Kanga Cup swears by. Those being fun, friendship, and football! Their coach, Adriano Tozzi, believes that it’s the team spirit that is making the overall experience so enjoyable.
“Just the spirit of these girls… No matter if they win, or if they lose, they just have fun. It makes me feel younger because they’re having so much fun! It makes it so easy for us to enjoy,” he said.
‘Togetherness’ seems to be a large drawing factor to the tournament each year, especially for destination teams. The idea of spending one whole week surrounded by their closest friends has been a common highlight amongst all the players at the Kanga Cup this year. That is no different for this Canberra-based team.
“The fact that no matter what, they walk off the field smiling and they’re building bonds with one another constantly. They have literally been with each other 24/7 for the last week and it’s just great,” Tozzi shared.
“No matter what, they win together, they lose together,” he added.
This tournament has many benefits. Keeping the kids active during their school holidays seems to be what Tozzi finds most important. He jokingly also shared that his team would likely be getting up to some mischief is they weren’t playing football this week!
“I suppose it helps build the interest in the sport and it keeps them active,” Tozzi commented. “Ultimately, if they’re not doing this for a week, what else are they going to be doing? Hanging around at the shops? Getting themselves in trouble? So, this is great.”
When it comes down to it, this coach prioritises the enjoyment factor of football to his team of girls over anything else. When asked what his overall was for the week, Tozzi simply stated:
“For these girls to have as much fun as possible. That was it. And I think we did that.”
This group of young individuals embody what it means to be a part of the Kanga Cup. Hopefully we see these girls return in the years, soaking up their last few years of the Kanga Cup experience that their age allows!
Words: Kate Reedy
