National Ambassadors step up
Posted on 26/08/2008
Joining the Premier today at the launch of the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup were the newly-appointed national ambassadors – the face of the world game in Australia, Mr Les Murray AM; former Australian Socceroo Mr Craig Foster; captain of Melbourne Victory FC Mr Kevin Muscat; and Australian women’s soccer team goalkeeper, the Matildas’ Ms Melissa Barbieri.
Mr Murray said he was humbled to
be an ambassador of the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup. “Football to
me transcends colour, race or creed. I have witnessed football’s
influence and impact on the lives of people from all around the world,
be it the beaches of Brazil, the streets of Sarajevo or centre stage at
the FIFA World Cup,” Mr Murray said. “I am humbled to be an ambassador
for the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup and witness the positive
power of football in our community and its quest to raise awareness and
address homeless issues around the world.”
Les Murray is known
as both the face and voice of football (soccer) in Australia. As the
most prominent commentator and presenter of football on Australian
television, he is credited with championing the monumental rise in
popularity of the sport in his country through the 1980s and ‘90s. He
is otherwise known throughout Australia as Mr Football.
Kevin Muscat is a former Australian Socceroo and current captain of Melbourne Victory A League soccer team. Kevin is one of Australia’s most decorated footballers with 51 international caps to his name. Following a glittering career in Europe with clubs including Rangers, Wolverhampton and Millwall, Muscat returned to Australia and led Melbourne Victory to its first Hyundai A-League Premiers Plate, Hyundai A-League Champions Trophy and AFC Champions League appearance.
Craig
Foster is one of Australia's most well known and well respected
footballing identities. He achieved on-field success in both England
and Australia before moving into the media as an expert commentator and
analyst. Craig made 29 appearances for the Socceroos, once as the
Australian national side’s captain, and continued his leadership streak
by skippering both Crystal Palace FC in the UK and National Soccer
League side, Northern Spirit FC. Since his retirement from professional
football, Craig has become one of Australia’s foremost football media
commentators with SBS’s weekly football forum The World Game.
Melissa Barbieri is the current goalkeeper of the Matildas Australian women’s soccer team. She debuted for Australia in 2002 against Canada, and has represented Australia 27 times including in the 2003 World Cup Team, 2004 Athens Olympic Team and 2007 World Cup Team. Melissa was the first female to play for a Men’s Premier League Team in the Richmond Eagles and also holds a dual registration with Box Hill Inter Women’s Football Club. She will be playing for Melbourne Victory in the new W-League that coincides with the men’s A-League this year. Melissa prides herself on helping younger players and children on developing their skills and being a role model for those young girls who would one day want to be Matildas themselves.
“I want to support the 2008 Homeless World Cup, to make the community aware of the issues of homelessness. I am proud to support these players who have used football to change their lives.” said Melissa Barbieri, Matildas Goalkeeper
Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup kicks off on 1-7 December.
Photo shows Melbourne 2008 Ambassadors Craig Foster, Melissa Barbieri and Les Murray with Victorian Premier John Brumby.
Michael Brown - Photoworx.
