Male and female indigenous students from around the state made up the 12 teams (6 boys, 6 girls) to take part in the carnival that rewarded more than just silky football skills.
Students involved in the Aboriginal Power Cup were required to design their own guernseys and plan and promote the initiative within their region. The winner of the Aboriginal Power Cup was determined not just by goals kicked in the carnival, but also school attendance and other factors.
Power legend Gavin Wanganeen was on hand, along with Attorney-General Michael Atkinson to greet the participants and launch the two-day carnival, which culminated on Friday night at AAMI Stadium, with the Grand Finals being played as curtain raisers to the Power v Magpies clash.
The action was fast-paced last Thursday in the middle of Alberton Oval, with these young Indigenous students showing they had pace to burn and skills to match. Despite some tough competition, it was the students from Para West Adult Campus who ended up taking out the carnival, winning both the male and female competitions.
The concept is a joint initiative of the Attorney-General’s Department and the Port Adelaide Football Club, with the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy and the SANFL. Launched in April, the Aboriginal Power Cup takes on key recommendations from Monsignor David Cappo’s report To Break the Cycle.
The report highlighted that early intervention and prevention were essential to curbing youth crime, and that sport and education are keys to connecting young people to the community and keeping them on track. The concept is modelled on a successful UK-based program that collaborated with the Charlton Athletic Football Club to tackle youth crime issues in the Charlton area of south-east London.
Students involved hail from around the state, including Para West Adult Campus, Kaurna Plains Primary School, John Pirie Secondary School, Ceduna Area School, Port Lincoln High School and the Wiltja Program (Woodville High School).
Port Adelaide President Greg Boulton said the Aboriginal Power Cup was another opportunity for the Power to contribute to the community in a positive way.
“The Port Adelaide Football Club has had a long and proud involvement with the Aboriginal community,” Boulton said.
“Not just in terms of the success of our Indigenous champions like Gavin Wanganeen and the Burgoynes, but also through the work we’ve done in our Community Youth Program and Planet Teal.
“The Aboriginal Power Cup is already an absolute credit to everyone involved. From the strong backing of the State Government to the 100 volunteers who have contributed, there is every indication it will have a very positive effect on the lives of these young people.”
The State Government has committed to the continuation of the Aboriginal Power Cup for a further two years.
