The Sydney Swans foreign legion will welcome footballers from all corners of the globe when they are in Sydney next week for the 2011 AFL International Cup.
Irishman Tadhg Kennelly, and Canadian Mike Pyke will meet players from their respective homelands before they play games next week.
Eighteen international teams will play in the International Cup, which will be hosted at community venues around Sydney from Saturday August 13 to Saturday August 20.
The unique Australian football carnival will involve teams from: Canada, China, Denmark, East Timor, Fiji, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peace Team (comprising of both Israeli and Palestinian players), Sweden, South Africa, Tonga and USA.
It is the fourth International Cup and four nations will make their debut; East Timor, Fiji, France, and Tonga. For the first time five women’s teams will also participate - Canada, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, USA and a combined Australian multicultural and Indigenous team.
Former Sydney Swans captain and premiership player Brett Kirk is the International Cup ambassador. He is looking forward to introducing the nations to Sydney.
“I’ve met many of the participants during my six month voyage around the world and I’ve got an insight to their passion for Australian football,’’ Kirk said.
“With over 800 players and officials taking part in the carnival, this will be the biggest and most exciting International Cup yet.
“We look forward to welcoming the nations, watching them compete and experience the role Australian football plays in bringing cultures together,” Brett said.
No expatriate Australians are eligible to play in the International Cup. Teams are comprised solely of amateurs who must be nationals of the country they represent. All players must have lived the majority of the years aged between 10 and 16 as a citizen of their nation.
Previous International Cup winners are Ireland (2002), New Zealand (2005) and Papua New Guinea (2008).
Blacktown International Sportspark will host the first matches and the inaugural Festival of Nations this Saturday August 13 and there will be a strong Swans presence, including an appearance by club mascot, Cyggy.
The festival will feature activities including multicultural food stalls, face painters, jumping castle, kids’ clinics (from 9.30am - 10.30am) and the football action as the competition gets underway.
The men’s teams will play seeding matches on the opening day. Teams will then be placed in two divisions. To confirm where and when each nation is playing, visit www.ic2011.com.au from 9pm Saturday August 13.
International Cup Fixture
Saturday August 13
11am-7pm Blacktown International Sportspark - Ovals 1&2 Men’s seeding matches
BISS Oval One
11am Papua New Guinea v Tonga
12pm Papua New Guinea v France
1pm Tonga v France
2pm New Zealand v Sweden
3pm New Zealand v India
4pm Sweden v India
5pm South Africa v Denmark
6pm South Africa v China
7pm Demark v China
BISS Oval Two
11am Great Britain v East Timor
12pm Ireland v East Timor
1pm Ireland v Great Britain
2pm Nauru v Japan
3pm Nauru v Fiji
4pm Japan v Fiji
5pm Canada v USA
6pm Canada v Peace Team
7pm United States v Peace Team
Monday August 15
1pm - 5pm Blacktown International Sportspark - Ovals 1&2 Men’s & Women’s matches
Wednesday August 17
2pm Blacktown International Sportspark Oval 2 Men’s & Women’s matches
12pm & 2pm Bruce Purser Reserve - Rouse Hill Men’s matches
12pm & 2pm Holroyd Ground - Gipps Road Oval Men’s matches
12pm & 2pm Auburn Ground - Mona Park Ovals Men’s matches
12pm & 2pm Bus Loop - SCG Men’s & Women’s matches
Thursday August 18
5pm & 7pm Blacktown International Sportspark Oval 1 Men’s & Women’s matches
Saturday August 20
10am - 6pm Blacktown International Sportspark - Ovals 1&2 Men’s & Women’s matches
1pm - 3pm Auburn Ground - Mona Park Ovals Women’s matches
Sunday August 21
10.40am ANZ Stadium
Men’s Division One match to be played as a curtain-raiser to Sydney Swans v St Kilda
The final week of competition will be played in Melbourne with the Grand Final to be played at the MCG on Saturday August 27.
