Power Community Ltd has launched a Football and Cultural Awareness Program for African students (male and female) aged 5 to 17 years.  

The program aims to teach the basics of Australian Rules Football to these eager and willing new arrivals over a ten week period.   

Kilburn Football Club are hosting the program and it is anticipated that many of the participants will play junior football for Kilburn FC this season.

Power Community Ltd has appointed a Head Coach to oversee the program.  

Mal Thiel has previously coached at AFL Vanuatu and is passionate about introducing the game to new communities.   

Mal encourages participants to take what they know from other sports, including Soccer, Athletics and Rugby, and combine these skills into one game - the greatest game of all!

Newly appointed AFL Multicultural Ambassador Alipate Carlile will be a regular visitor to the program over 10 weeks.   

Alipate sees this program “as a great opportunity for these kids to embrace a sport that is integral to  the Australian way of life. They will learn new skills, make new friends, and who knows, we might find a future AFL player along the way.”  

He added that the program is "a unique way for a local football club such as Kilburn FC to recruit new members to bolster its junior teams. Everybody wins.”

The first week of the program attracted more female participants than males, and many of the girls will look to play for the Kilburn U16 Girls Team.  Kilburn FC have embraced the program, including attendance at a Cultrual Diversity Workshop facilitated by the SANFL.

The  program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship through the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program.   

Power Community Ltd is proud to be working with a range of stakeholders in delivering this program including Kilburn FC, the African Communities Council, the SANFL and North Adelaide FC.    

The program runs every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 3.30-5.00pm at Kilburn FC , Lionel Avenue, Blair Athol.     

The program is FREE  and includes fruit and drinks on arrival, free coaching and a range of footy give-aways. Please email atuckfield@pafc.com.au for further information.