SOCCER

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

ANOTHER great showing for the annual Friendship Games took place last week, with a number of local special schools voyaging to Newborough/Yallourn Soccer Club for its 16th official edition.

Students from six Gippsland special schools including Latrobe Special Development School and Baringa School took part in the friendly tournament, prioritising connection and participation.

After a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon, eager students rushed to the field to begin kicking some goals and work with their teammates.

Support was on a high with a great number of parents, family and school staff cheering on from the side lines as each student made their move.

The purposes of the games isn’t about the result, solely on making sure students have an enjoyable day, which Baringa School principal Kelly Mether said they build towards.

“It’s really, really positive for them because it’s something they train for, which is really good,” she said.

“It’s something they work towards in terms of having to meet behaviour expectations to get to participate.”

Mether added that given the years upon years of taking part, students begin to forge new relationships with those from different schools and a familiar environment is created.

Newborough/Yallourn Soccer Club has been the home of the Friendship Games since its inception, founded by former club president, the late Michael Buhagiar, and Jos Adrichen.

A former Baringa School staff member, Adrichen would take a group of students up to Dandenong near two decades ago, and after that opportunity was no longer, the Friendship Games was brought to life for the local area.

Adrichen is still doing everything he can to help its running on the day as well as in the lead up, even he didn’t see it still preserving all these years later.

“It’s absolutely magic because it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about making friends (and) putting smiles on their faces, and that’s all that matters,” he said.

“The staff are all fantastic, if it wasn’t for the staff, it wouldn’t be as it is.”

The Friendship Games continues to see community support year on year, through Latrobe City, Moe Racing Club, and the major power generators.