Almanac Junior Footy – Under-10s East Keilor v Keilor: Preparing for a Grand Final with Fijian inspiration

Preparing  for a Grand Final with Fijian inspiration

 

By Michael Gallus.

 

In my first season of coaching under 10s Div 4 at the East Keilor FC, having started the season in Div 5, we had worked very hard to finish on top of the ladder. We entered the grand final as the team to beat against Keilor, having won through from 5th.

 

We knew it would be a tough game, all grand finals are. The East Keilor FC had not won a junior premiership for three years in any age group, the under 10s hadn’t won one for seven years, the pressure was on.

 

As coach I wanted to both inspire and focus the kids before this big game as the whole club was pretty excited about a possible premiership. I also wanted this to be relevant to the kids too. I knew that all the kids had watched and had been excited by the Fiji Rugby Sevens Gold Medal winning game and their singing and passionate celebrations. I thought this same song sung by my friends and fellow Fijians before the game would really focus and inspire them.

u10s

The hairs were up on the backs of our necks as Kali and the boys sang. This is one of the most moving inspiring events I have been involved in in 20 years of coaching in community sport as the world’s 5th tallest man Fijian Kaliova Selei joined with his Fijian Island Breeze Rugby plus friends to sing the Inspiring Fijian sporting song.

And it worked Benny Gallus kicked the first goal and the team was never headed for the whole match winning 5:5-35 to 2:7-19. I have no doubt that song sung by the Fijians created the mind set and inspiration for those 8, 9 and 10 year old kids of the East Keilor FC U10 Div 4 team to create history!

 

I cannot thank Waqa Baravilala and his wife Jade Baravilala and Kaliova Selei for their support of Ben Gallus and his EKFC U10 teammates before their winning Grand final.

East Keilor U10 Premiers

East Keilor U10 Premiers

Such an amazing experience which made a great day even greater and displays the power of unity through sport no matter what age, culture or religion!

 

 

Michael Gallus

Footys4all volunteer founding director http://www.footys4all.com.au/

 

 

See the highlights here.

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