AUSTRALIAN football’s ability to embrace people from all cultures has flourished in Melbourne’s north-west suburbs, with the establishment of the Hume Bombers Football Club.
Developed by AFL Victoria, in conjunction with the Essendon District Football League and Essendon Football Club, the Hume Bombers Football Club was created to engage with the strong Indian community in the region.
Born out of the Gurdwara Indian Auskick centre, the community’s love of football flourished and quickly grew popularity from 64 to 115 participants in 2015.
Working closely with the Indian community, the club established Under 9s and Under 13s teams to participate for its first season in the EDFL.
Getting their first taste of competitive football this year, AFL Victoria Football Development Manager Mark Morgan said the new club has been pivotal in providing the community with a pathway to develop and progress with their football.
“We’ve helped them along the way and consulted the community, given them some basic education around what’s required to make a game happen every weekend,” Morgan said.
“It’s really important for us to engage these communities and get young kids firstly introduced to the game, and then having a really strong awareness of what pathways are available.
“It’s a good way for them to assimilate into the local culture.”
Community leader and club president Avtar Singh played a major role in developing the team, and he knows just how much it means to the Indian community.
“They were rapt, they were excited,” said Singh on the families’ reaction to having a team available.
“In this country you need to follow a club (and) you need to follow footy. That’s something I learned very quickly when I came from India.
“It impacted a lot of kids.
“More kids are interested in playing footy now that they can see they can do it.
“It has urged them to engage in the mainstream sport in this country.”
While still in the very early stages of development, Singh hopes eventually that one day, a player from the Indian community can represent them at AFL level,” he said.
“Eventually I would like to see them play for an AFL club.
“That is the goal, that is what the community would love to see.
“Maybe they can be the Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli of the AFL.”
Originally published on aflvic.com.au.
