United they stand

By Justin Robertson
NEARLY 40 youngsters will be helped out financially by three councillors from the Central Ward so they can play with the Cardinia United Soccer Club this season.
With the season less than five weeks away, councillors Collin Ross, Brett Owen and George Blenkhorn have contributed $250 each so the kids can start the season with shin pads, boots and jumper and have their registration fees covered.
The Cardinia United Soccer Club has applied to the Football Federation of Victoria and VicHealth for a grant of $8850 to cover basic needs, including club fees.
The targets are kids aged between six and 14 from African communities, including Somalia, Sudan and Kenya.
The application was lodged last Monday, but the Pakenham Road club won’t know the results of its paperwork until April, when the season kicks off.
Cr Ross said he initially was going to fork out $500 but he had been helped out by councillors Owen and Blenkhorn.
“It’s to give some youths who want to play the opportunity to do so,” Cr Ross said
“The donation makes sure at least some of the kids they are trying to get to play soccer, can start with the right gear come April.”
Cr Ross said he was at a function where well-known charity worker Les Twentyman was talking about the significance of getting kids into a sporting team.
“Out of the 403 kids who attended Footscray Juvenile Court last year, there were only three who played team sport,” Mr Twentyman said.
“If you have initiatives where you are trying to get kids involved in community sport, I’ll do my best to help support your programs,” Cr Ross said.
Cardinia United Soccer Club president Mark Dunn has been at the helm since last October and has been the driving force behind building the fledgling club.
“The support has been fantastic,” he said.
“Once it was explained to Cr Ross, he said this is what I’ll do and he got support from other councillors. It all helps.”
Mr Dunn is expecting more than 200 members to join this year and said the club had signed 103 already.
“We are hoping the grant comes through – it’ll help with the kids, their families and it’s something we hope will help all season,” he said.
“But, we also need to think about how to make it all happen again next year, getting the same players funded to play soccer.”