Griffith Soccer teams are “psyched” to have won a competition that will see them in their uniform marching around ANZ stadium before the international clash between Arsenal and Sydney FC on Thursday July 13.
Football NSW in coordination with VenuesLive and Arsenal Football Club extended an invitation to the teams to participate in a Junior March Past to celebrate grassroots football when Arsenal FC play Sydney FC.
Coach Anthony Puntoniero entered his teams into the competition, and says they are all “extremely excited” to have won.
“Because I’ve registered as a coach for NSW, we got emailed an opportunity to enter the competition, and we were lucky enough to win 20 tickets” he said.
“I coach the under 11s and the under 8s Griffith West club, and most of them are all going.”
“There is going to be a march past, so when we arrive there before the game, before the kick off, they are actually going to parade a few soccer clubs, around the stadium, which will be filled with 50,000 people, with our names on the big score boards, and then we get to watch the game.
“We were very lucky to win the competition, so we are all pretty psyched.”
Rosie Puntoriero, mother of Ryan Puntoriero, is thrilled that the boys have this “amazing” opportunity.
“I’m so excited that they get the opportunity to be presented in front of an international team, and they are all very excited to be a part of it,” she said.
Julian Puntoriero is one of the boys who will be attending the March, and is looking forward to finally seeing the Arsenal Team in action.
“I’m excited to see players from Arsenal and Sydney FC, and especially the goal keeper, because I normally play goal keeper.”
“Also going with dad, because he won the tickets, and also with my friends here as well.”
It has been 40 years since Arsenal last visited Australia, and the two Arsenal matches are expected to attract more than 28,000 domestic and international visitors to Sydney and put $18.6 million into the NSW economy.
The Arsenal In Sydney games will be televised live in HD on SBS VICELAND as the two games track toward an attendance of more than 80,000 for both games at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
SBS VICELAND confirmed it will broadcast Arsenal v Sydney FC on Thursday, July 13 and Arsenal v Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, July 15 from 7.30pm AEST on both nights.
The March Past will be held at ANZ Stadium prior to the game on Thursday.
