HEINRICH Haussler described yesterday’s first day of play in the Joey’s Mini World Cup as hectic for the organisers, but going very well.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“With so many teams here to sort out this morning, with referees and fields and everything, but it is in full-swing now and I think it will get easier and easier,” Haussler said.
“The Joeys had their first game this morning in the Open Women and they won 2-0 against the team from Withcott. Our boys played Toowoomba Grammar, which is always a very, very hard team to play.”
The boys went down 3-0 to the Toowoomba side, but Haussler said the Joeys had handled themselves very well during the match and had received compliments on their style of play after the match.
Haussler said the German side had a setback when one of their players broke an arm during training on Wednesday night, and may have to be taken to Armidale for surgery. He said that player is all right, but the Tongan team had their brush with bad luck also.
The bus the team was travelling in broke down and another had to be hired to get them here, but they managed to make it to the combined barbecue with the German team and the New Zealand side on Wednesday night.
“That’s what it is all about. It’s not just about football, it’s about bringing countries together and it really gets rid of the borders we all seem to create,” Haussler said.
He said more volunteers would be handy this week and acknowledged the important contribution they have made, and will make in the future, as the cup is expected to grow by about 20 teams next year.
Former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic has not missed a cup since its inception and described it as the most international and best tournament in the country.
“I think the time has come for this city to wake up to itself to realise how big this tournament is. It’s promotion, it’s knowing what Inverell is all about, it’s the beauty of this area. Most important it’s an opportunity for the kids,” Rasic said.
“From an international point of view it’s international relationships. It’s a language, it’s a culture. Last night I addressed the ladies team from Tonga.
“I had tears in my eyes when they sang the ‘thank you’ song to me at the end. That was better than any choir you would ever have the opportunity to hear.
“That is amazing. Different countries and different cultures and respect for what we are.”