This weekend, a 25 strong Greek Australian Aussie rules team will battle it out in an international style cup, all in the name of multiculturalism and Harmony Week.
The annual Harmony Cup held this Sunday will feature eight ethnically diverse teams, including Albania, Australia (a mostly indigenous team), Greece, Ireland, Indonesia, Africa and Turkey.
Each team will play three games against different sides, and the wining two will play the final.
This year the Greek team is well prepared. Training since mid January, the team is looking strong and fit and, with a special
blessing from Father Chris in South Melbourne, certainly has a spiritual edge.
Oakleigh Ward councillor, Theo Zographos has also shown his support visiting them during training, and Hawthorn Spartans have been on board to help out.
The team hasn’t just stopped at honing their football skills, but has reached out to the community for a good cause. You might have seen the players out and about at the Antipodes festival taking donations for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal while giving out free lollies and chocolates. They will also be collecting on the match day to boost up support.
Team Co-ordinatior and coach, Evan Sofianos is thrilled by the support already and hopes many more will come down to watch the matches.
“Big thank you to all our sponsors for all their support & would like to encourage as many greeks as possible to get down & support us on the day wearing their blue & white, as this will help us get over the line,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
The cup aims to use football to bridge the cultural gap and celebrate Australia’s ethnic makeup.
The team: Adrian Papamiltiades, Evan Sofianos, Joshua Papachristodoulou, Emmanuel Giannakis, Nick Zannis, Jason Youseef, George Danatzis, Nicholas Criticos, Stephen Christofakakis, Charlie Athanassiou, Michael Romas, Anastasios Tsiounis, Jason Kreskas, Zach Konstantinidis, George Stamatonikolos, Basilios Hatzopoulos, Peter Dantzis, Peter Thodrakopoulos, John Tsoutsouras, Luke Papamilitiadous, Con Panagiotopoulos, Grigorios Giannitsadis, Dean Ekonomides, Johnny Bartziz, Kyriakos Konstantinides.
Coaching team: Evan Sofianos, Harry Sklavounos & Nick Zannis, Captain: Adrian Papamiltiades and vice-captain: Stephen Christofakakis.
The Greek team will verse Australia first at 10am, then Indonesia at 12pm, followed by Albania at 3pm. The grand final is at 5pm.
Date: Sunday March 24th
Time: 10am – 6pm
Venue: 24 McAlister & Ransford Ovals, 1 Park Street Royal Park North Parkville 3058