NSW/ACT Multicultural talent shines

The NSW/ACT All Nations team is coached by ex-GWS Player Setanta O’hailpin and managed by Kieran Donohue, Michael Collins, and Tennille Callaway, with the side winning two of its four games thus far and vying for a semi-final berth.

The competition is being held concurrently with the National Kickstart Championships and the South Pacific Championships, with the region’s team to receive a special boost from an AFL legend tomorrow.

One of the sport’s luminaries, Kevin Sheedy, will presenting to the entire  group of 400 players from around Australia on Tuesday morning to talk about coaching and achieving excellence, before the Championships’ finals, and Grand Final on April 16.

The 12-strong NSW/ACT side was selected from the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS’ academies, as well as through school programs, the squad whittled down from the initial 30 that attended the Stephen Coniglio Talent Camp held at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern.

In order to be eligible for selection, players or their parents must be from emerging communities, speak English as a second language, and be aged 15 or 16.

Remarkably, all 12 players – some of whom have never played AFL before – are from different backgrounds, including Namibia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and South Sudan, with several only recently arrived in Australia.

Several NSW and ACT youngsters are in the mix for selection in the ‘World Team’ squad, which will be announced within the next fortnight.

NSW/ACT All Nations Team

Derrick Visser
Zaid Bakhshi
Debaar Bakkhiyar
James Collins Demby
Blaize Singizawa
Ahmed Kassem
Ali Sabbagh
Oliver Boakye
Zechariah Bristowe
Kaman Malou
Vijaya Sainju
Christopher Baran