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Key Points:
- A joint initiative between the Australian and Colombian governments is growing Aussie Rules in the South America country.
- As part of that, three players have been awarded scholarships to play football in Australia for a season this year.
- Former Sydney Swans’ captain Josh Kennedy is hosting one of the players as well as helping with training clinics.
Travis Crockett, a former coach and player with the Bogotá Bulldogs, said the AFL Colombia initiative began “with a couple of mates kicking in the park”, to now growing to over 200 registered players.
From L to R: Alejandro Susa, Travis Crockett and Óscar Marina.
“A lot of Colombians grow up surrounded by poverty, gangs, violence and footy gives them a chance to focus on something positive. This is a community, a footy family and everyone’s welcome,” Crockett said.
“It’s a great experience for them … Estefanía is living with us, with my family and children in Glen Iris, and the three of them are playing footy here on a team, working, and learning English,” Kennedy said.
From L to R: Alejandro Susa, Estefanía Gualteros and Óscar Marina.
Kennedy has coached clinics for children in Bogotá and attended a training session for the Bogotá Bulldogs.
Marina said the idea behind the scholarship was, “… to grow from this and get my footy to a higher level so I can come back and teach all of my teammates.”
I don’t think there are words that can describe the passion, the energy and, above all, the respect that you see in this sport. On the field we are rivals, but off the field we remain friends.
Estefanía Gualteros
Both Susa and Gualteros said football had opened up many new pathways for them.
Footy gave me life, which for me means light on many paths. Sport changes absolutely everything.
Estefanía Gualteros
“I feel that sport is the strongest link, the most solid bridge, to connect nationalities, cultures, talents, and above all, to provide opportunities to realise dreams,” Gualteros added.
Aussie Rules training in Colombia is ‘complicated’
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