Professional Football Australia (PFA) has joined forces with John Moriarty Football (JMF) to further enhance the foundation’s work in engaging indigenous Australians through football.
To mark the new partnership, PFA Executive Member and Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak, PFA President Matt McKay and Socceroo great Tim Cahill, a driving force behind the players’ contribution confirmed that the Socceroos would make an historic donation of $90,000 from their match fees from tonight’s clash with Jordan.
“This is a cause the players are extremely passionate about,” said Jedinak. “The work that John Moriarty Football carries out is truly remarkable and we are committed to bettering the lives of indigenous Australians.’
“John is one of us. A player who seeks to give his people a better chance. Now John Moriarty Football has the support of the entire profession which gave John his first start and a lifelong love for the game” added Cahill.
“The partnership between JMF and the PFA is a natural fit,” said McKay. “All of the famous indigenous names such as activist, Charles Perkins, John Moriarty, Harry Williams, Travis Dodd, Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams have one thing in common. They are our brothers and sisters as fellow players and today’s generation feel a responsibility to contribute towards giving many more young kids a chance to play, to excel and to develop a brighter future just as John has done.”
JMF Ambassador and proud indigenous Australian, former Socceroo Jade North, said he hoped the Socceroos’ gesture would kickstart an historic week for indigenous football: “The Socceroos have shown extraordinary leadership in the first Indigenous Football Week in which we want to start the discussion about indigenous football and our community, and ensure that our game moves forward in this area. Now, every professional Australian player here and around the world can come together under the PFA banner to do as much as possible to raise awareness.”
John Moriarty said JMF was honored to have the support of Australia’s professional footballers.
“John Moriarty Football is delighted to partner with Professional Football Australia,” said Moriarty. “The involvement of PFA members in our program will help us support and nurture our talented young athletes to succeed at the highest national and international levels of the game.
“I am humbled that the Socceroos, who I hold so dearly, have made a contribution and that the football profession will put its support around our young players, in the same way that the football community embraced me so many years ago and showed me a different life. The ripple effect of change amongst children in remote communities will be immense.”
PFA Chairman, Craig Foster congratulated the players on helping to grow the game.
‘The Australian public can be immensely proud that their Socceroos have shown a willingness to personally contribute to an important cause and I am delighted to see the social conscience of all of our members, male and female shining so brightly. They are not only world class professionals but, more importantly, outstanding people.’
“All of our members are actively engaged in, and passionate about this partnership. Our A-League players will wear commemorative shirts this weekend to encourage football fans to get involved and our Matildas and W-League players are lending their promotional support from wherever they happen to be in the global marketplace. Australia’s players have always played a very significant role beyond the field of play, and this legacy is as strong as ever.”
“John Moriarty Football is not only about what the game can gain from engaging indigenous Australia through elite talent production but rather how football can change the destinies of indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australia,” said Foster. “For this reason, the PFA takes great pride in establishing this partnership.”
John Moriarty Football:
Founded by the first Indigenous Australian selected for the Socceroos, John Moriarty, JMF’s aim is to provide the support, training, development and pathways for Indigenous football to succeed in Australia, and to use the sport as a powerful tool to change educational and life outcomes for Indigenous footballers and their families. JMF is also the focus of the inaugural Indigenous Football Week jointly announced today by Football Federation Australia and PFA to raise funds for JMF’s work.
