The Central Coast Mariners are to play a couple of fixtures against ACT teams, presumably as part of their pre-season training schedule. They have done it before through Belconnen United and the wonderful MacKellar playing field.
I intend to go to these matches - wouldn't miss it for quids!
But have we missed an opportunity here and who gets to decide which team plays the Mariners?
Canberra FC are obvious starters, no one seems to be able to touch them this season and they harbour ambitions to enter the Football NSW competition, sooner rather than later. Makes sense. Perhaps Belconnen United are playing the Mariners because they are tied up in providing venues / facilities and on that basis it would also make sense. But I doubt you would pick Belco this season, they are not firing on all cylinders just yet. I think the second selection might have gone to that terrific young Premier League team (avec ACTAS players) - Canberra Olympic. Hard to pass them by this season.
And then it struck me - why hasn't Capital Football orgainsed a "Youth Team" to play the Mariners? Why not? There is so much talk about the need for our best Under 17 to 20 mens players to get a pathway to higher levels of Football. I know this is only one match, but why would you let it pass by? Several football tragics called to said something like "what about the " Rockets"! Talk about a pheonix rising from the ashes. When I respond by saying what about a "Youth League type team", they say "Yeh that's what I mean". They say a few other things too but they are mostly aimed at Capital Football's seeming lack of forethought. You gotta wonder.
I don't begrudge CFC or Belco for one minute. I wish my Club had the same opportunity (WVFC just in case I get accused again by CF of having a conflict of interest).
But I am just amazed that we seemed to have missed a terrific opportunity to put together the best of our Youth players to play the Mariners. Potentially an all Premier League Club effort. What a powerful statement that would be, a point of positive focus for the future. And we missed it! Wonder why?
Just a thought!
See you at the matches.
