Footy first for Sikh community

More than 100 Sikhs stepped out onto the footy field to learn the fundamentals of our great game as part of the first ever Sikh Community football clinics run by the WA Football Commission.

Kids of all ages and their parents took part in two four-week programs over August and September, which were made up of basic football clinics that tapped into various aspects of AFL both on and off the field.

These included the rules and skills of the game, AFL culture in WA, the WA football participation pathway, and how and where to watch footy.

Sikh Youth Australia’s Manveer Singh said the program provided a great platform for the Sikh community to learn the basics of AFL and the social benefits the sport provides.

“The program was a great success and it was a fantastic opportunity for the Sikh community to better understand the sport,” he said.

“The community’s interest in the sport will now help them create lasting friendships within the wider Australian community.

Manveer is hoping to incorporate AFL into the Australian Sikh Games (ASG) and is looking forward to working closely with the WAFC in the lead up to the 2020 ASG which will be held in Perth.

The Sikh community football program is part of the wider WAFC Welcome to AFL Program which delivers a number of clinics targeted at different multicultural communities.

Clinics have been developed with the Chung Wah Chinese Association, Indian Society WA, Sikh Youth Australia and Pakistani’s in Australia.

The WAFC will be looking to deliver football clinics with other multicultural communities over the coming years.