The box contains soccer boots, training shirts, red socks and flags for the Tongan Women’s soccer team arriving soon to play in the Cup. 

It is an extension of the support Tongan soccer has been receiving from the Reagan Milstein Foundation which backs growing, budding and disadvantaged soccer lovers across Australia, the South Pacific and Asia.

The Foundation began after the Milstein family lost their beloved son Reagan at age 14, after a Malaysian scuba diving accident in 2010. 

“It’s a way to honour Reagan and to keep his memory alive,” said his father and foundation founder, Kevin Milstein.

Kevin said his son was medivaced from Malaysia to Singapore and then to Melbourne where the family kept vigil until the end. It was while he say bedside that Kevin found the seeds of the current foundation.

“I was just thinking, what happens if the worst outcome happens; we lose Reagan? What was that 14 years all about? I don’t want his memory to just disappear,” Kevin said.

“I went back to that family and said, ‘Let’s keep Reagan alive; let’s keep his legacy alive and that’s where the foundation started from.”

After their launch, the family was found that the Israeli government had a program aiding sports programs in the South Pacific. It was there the relationship with Tonga began. 

The Foundation provides new or donated and pre-loved sporting equipment to make possible participation in pursing all the positives that come with an active lifestyle.

“I think now, with the goods that have been donated to the Tongan team that’s coming to Inverell, that’s I think our sixth donation of goods to a (Tongan) team or to the football association,” Kevin said.

“I always tell people, send me your wish list, ask for whatever you want. If I’ve got it, I’ll help you if I don’t, I don’t. I can’t help it.”

The Milsteins are making the trip from Melbourne to Inverell for the Mini World Cup dinners. Heinrich said the visit might build some bridges.

“We hope with Kevin being up here and being our guest speaker for the two nights that he will be able to inspire the young people so the work and help his young son did with other people. 

“We hope that next year, we can raise funds for him that his foundation can help more needy sports people in football,” he said.

He added that the connections between the Mini World Cup and the foundation might encourage more teams to come to the Cup to play and celebrate the ‘beautiful game’.

To learn more about the Reagan Milstein Foundation find them on Facebook or the web site www.reaganmilsteinfoundation.com.