The Australian Football Skool Shepparton Cup is back with a seismic bang.
Following a four-year hiatus induced by COVID-19 and last October’s floods, the tournament brings more than 550 games contested between 225 teams across 30 different pitches at Shepparton Sports City and Mooroopna from Friday to Sunday.
AFS director Rolando Navas was over the moon to have the Shepparton Cup return in 2023.
“It’s so good on many fronts,” Navas said.
“It’s great for the town after a four-year hiatus and it’s great to bring it back again.
“It’s great for the kids after not being here for a long time; some of them grew up with this tournament and for some of them it’s their last hoorah and they’re just looking forward to it because they’ve missed out for so long.
“And it’s great for us as well because we absolutely enjoy running this event, it’s the biggest event that we run and it’s the biggest in the state, so we are really looking forward to it.”
Starting Friday night, teams from New Zealand, Tasmania, Cairns, Sydney, Southern NSW and all across Victoria will kick off an epic three days of football.
The tournament will culminate in Sunday’s finals, with about 10,000 players, staff and spectators congregating in Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Among them, like always, will be a fierce local contingent.
Goulburn Valley Suns have a rich history of performing well at the cup, with Garang Kuol, Teng Kuol and James Nieuwenhuizen springboarding their professional careers with back-to-back under-16 titles during 2018 and 2019.
Before them was Socceroo Ajdin Hrustic, who cut his teeth on Shepparton’s pitches in 2013.
The cup is an excellent advocate for grassroots football and the pathways it provides, but Navas also highlighted the economic injection to the region.
“As you know, Shepparton has only got 3000 beds and over 10,000 people flock to the event,” he said.
“So, not only Shepparton benefits but all the surrounding towns ― people are staying an hour, an hour and a half away just to attend the event.
“Some people are driving up and back from Melbourne as well because they couldn’t get accommodation.
“I think it will be pretty hard to get a seat at a restaurant on Saturday night in Shepparton.”
All signs point to a bumper reinstatement of the tournament this weekend.
The four-year hiatus has only increased AFS’ hunger to reinstate the tournament in Shepparton, with Navas highlighting the company’s pledge to grow it year after year.
“We’re pretty committed to the area, we work really well with council and the local community,” he said.
“All the local clubs jump on board, local businesses are jumping on board as well.
“I’m hoping that people that aren’t participating can come and have a look and hopefully they can join next year whether they’re playing, supporting the event or just getting the word out.”
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali built on Navas’ statement, expressing his enthusiasm for the event as well as the economic and community benefit it brings.
“Greater Shepparton has had the pleasure of hosting the cup for a number of years and we are fortunate to have it back after a couple of challenging years for our region,” Sali said.
“To receive the event once more allows us to continue the tradition of hosting high-profile sporting events.
“Our local clubs are excited for the great opportunity to be involved with some of the key event operations, using this experience to invest back into their facilities and sporting groups.”