From Friday until Sunday, more than 500 matches were contested by about 2638 players at Shepparton Sports City and Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
It was a massive undertaking by all.
From the officials and staff to vendors and live acts, everyone who contributed received a proverbial pat on the back from AFS director Rolando Navas after the 2023 edition of the event was a roaring hit following a four-year hiatus.
“We have a lot of gratitude and thanks to the council and everyone for being so supportive and helping us run the event,” Navas said.
“We couldn’t do this without the great team that I’ve got, everyone that works long hours ― a lot of work goes into these events and so many hours and it’s just a passion.
“Making it special for the kids is what drives us the most is to make sure that the kids remember it.”
The fanfare was one thing, but what about the football itself?
That was upper echelon according to Navas, who said the standard was as high as he’s seen at a tournament of its stature.
“We’re absolutely stoked, it was very successful. All in all, the fields, the amount of people that came to watch, the teams ― the standard of play is what impressed me the most,” he said.
“(There were) just so many good players, young players out there playing in the right way.
“It was by far the highest level I’ve seen in a long time at one of these tournaments so that was very pleasing to see boys and girls.
“The girls’ final was just mind-blowing standard-wise.
“And then obviously, everything else around it like the medal presentations, the energy ... I got around how happy the kids and parents were.”
Another aspect receiving big raps from Navas was the venues.
He expressed plans to make the Shepparton Cup Australia’s ― and by proxy, the Southern Hemisphere’s ― biggest youth football tournament, saying the region passed the acid test with flying colours.
“People couldn’t believe how big it was, how many pitches there were and how good the pitches were,” Navas said.
“In Melbourne, we don’t get to play on fields like that and by the end of the season, they’re all chopped up, there’s hardly any grass on it and it’s all brown.
“To be on fields like this is just second to none.
“And then all the other things, the little details like having the kids be able to express themselves by having fenced-off fields, the parents away, only the coaches letting them do their thing, that all helps.
“Even the music and all that, just little things that hopefully the kids will remember for the rest of their careers.”
