Max Hatzoglou
Melbourne Victory director of football John Didulica will be a part of this year’s Brimbank Readers and Writers Festival to discuss his new book, Football Belongs: Eight Matches That Explain Australia.
The book explores the intersection between sport and nation-building through football and how the game has had a positive impact on Australian society.
Author of the book Mr Didulica, who was the former chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia believes the book will highlight, through powerful stories, how football has been able to enhance society.
“I have tried to unpack how football has made Australia a better place and how it can make it a better place in future,” Didulica said.
“The more we understand the connection between football and nation-building, I think the more we can lean on football to help build a better Australia for the future.
Didulica hopes to create more awareness of the positive impact football has had on Australian society and the reasons why the game deserves greater support in future.
“In the future football has also got a massive role to play in the challenges we face as a nation.
“It can give people a powerful case study when they’re advocating for the influence and beauty of our game.
“There are a few good case studies they can refer to and say, ‘hang on this is what football has done for this country’ and can learn to be treated with respect.
“It deserves investment, it deserves to have a voice.
“That’s what very much drove me to write it.”
The book feature stories including Hakeem al-Araibi and how a nation was able to come together through football to support him from injustice.
Didulica who also played 27 matches in the National Soccer League and won a premiership believes that football can play a role in helping Australia address key issues and challenges in society.
He mentioned border controls, income inequality, gender equality, multicultulism and cultural genocide as some areas that will be a crucial part in shaping Australia in the next century.
“Football I think is well positioned to help Australia manage those challenges and reflect on them.
“By embracing football, by using football in the right way, we can navigate some of these challenges in a way that is socially cohesive and ensuring that we have made an inclusive, prosperous and diverse nation because I think that vision is under threat.
“I think we (football) can play a role to continue making sure that we are such a welcoming nation.”
The book can be purchased at the Brimbank Readers and Writers Festival or online.
Details: bit.ly/3vI5SEP
