Football
AAP 8y

Socceroos give AU$90,000 to indigenous football from Jordan match

The Socceroos are donating AU$90,000 in match fees from Tuesday's AFC World Cup qualifier with Jordan to help develop aspiring young indigenous players.

The donation will go to John Moriarty Football (JMF), a foundation which runs in the remote Northern Territory providing youngsters with access to coaching, match experience and education about the game.

Run by John Moriarty in Borroloola, JMF have already had significant success with 14-year-old Shadeene Evans, who started playing football as a nine-year-old and has since moved to Sydney to attend Westfield Sports High.

The Socceroos' gesture coincides with Football Federation Australia's launch of the first indigenous football week on Tuesday.

"This is a cause the players are extremely passionate about," Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak said.

"The work that John Moriarty Football carries out is truly remarkable, and we are committed to bettering the lives of indigenous Australians."

A delighted Moriarty thanked the team.

"I am humbled that the Socceroos, who I hold so dearly, have made a contribution and that the football profession will put its support around our young players, in the same way that the football community embraced me so many years ago and showed me a different life," said Moriarty, who in 1961 became the first indigenous player to be selected for Australia.

"The ripple effect of change amongst children in remote communities will be immense."

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