First Nations Indigenous Football Cup gets under way as Jambinu side looks to claim title for WA

“The world game meets the oldest living culture.” That’s the message from local organisers of the First Nations Indigenous Football Cup, which kicked off on Thursday morning.

The tournament hosts communities from every State and Territory to compete, come together and share culture through “the world game”.

The tournament also provides the opportunity for players to be selected for the Indigenous Koalas national side.

It hosts both men’s and women’s divisions as well as a youth competition while there will be several community workshops and stalls.

The Football West Jambinu side flew out of Perth on Sunday to compete at the two-day event in North Lakes Queensland.

The 13-woman squad and coaches will go up against teams from around Australia and is the first time since 2019 that the side has been able to travel to the event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players were presented with their shirts by Football West general manager Perry Ielati at Swan United’s Swan Italian Club on Sunday.

“After missing out on the past two years due to COVID restrictions, there is a great deal of excitement among the squad,” he said.

“This is a rare opportunity for female First Nations players to display their talent against each other and our team is looking forward to rising to the challenge and doing WA proud.”

They had mixed results on day one, falling to a 3-1 loss to the Northern Territory Yappas, but bounced back strongly, crushing the South Coast Jummalungs, 5-1, to leave themselves with a chance of taking the cup in today’s matches.

Jambinu squad

Allee Bartlett

Lyric Bonney

Dainira Papertalk

Rikki Papertalk

Keyahla Bolton Shiosaki

Chaili Shiosaki

Khyesha Comeagain

Melissa Spillman

Casey Hughes

Rayne Henry

Maxine Konkoly

Katherine Dann

Tui Wineti