The Westfield FFA Cup has already witnessed amazing fairytales from Bentleigh Greens and South Springvale in 2014, now an Indigenous club from the Gulf of Carpentaria have a chance to etch their name into national Cup football history.
NT Football has been given one direct slot into the Round of 32 of the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup.
As a result, over the coming months there’ll be knockout Cup qualifiers in Darwin and Alice Springs to find a winner from each city.
The respective winning teams will play each other in a one-off knockout match set for June 27 in Darwin at the city’s main football stadium.
The winner will then be the NT’s representative in the Round of 32 of the Westfield FFA Cup to kick off in late July.
On Tuesday night the Darwin Cup qualifiers will be drawn, and Alice Springs qualifiers are drawn on Saturday.
One fascinating story from these NT Cup qualifiers is the inclusion of FC Borroloola Cyclones.
The Cyclones have been placed in Darwin’s Cup qualification and have been busy preparing for their unlikely shot at Cup glory.
The Indigenous outfit is based in Borroloola, population around 1000, located close to the Gulf of Carpentaria and Barkly Tablelands about 1000km from Darwin.
It would be a huge story if the Cyclones won the NT’s only spot. It’s a long shot but as Football NT CEO Craig Chapman says: “Anything’s possible!”
It’s not the first time Borroloola’s been on the national stage. Thanks to the John Moriarty Foundation, a group of youngster from the town visited the Socceroos at their World Cup training camp in Brazil last year.
Chapman added the Westfield FFA Cup has given football in the Territory a huge injection of excitement.
“Already you can feel a massive effect, there’s a big buzz among the clubs. This is the first time we’ll play in a national competition," he told www.theffacup.com.au
“The media has really got on-board with the Cup and it’s fueling even more rivalry between Alice Springs and Darwin to see who’ll represent the Territory in the Round of 32.”
