FFA appoint football ambassadors

[midfielder]

Believe it or not

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=22268

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today named the first group of football ambassadors who will form an important part of Australias growing family of football supporters.

Just as football appeals to a wide range of Australians right across the spectrum, our chosen Ambassadors reflect this diversity and are drawn from all walks of life, said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.

Our ambassadors include politicians, journalists, sports people, entrepreneurs, chefs and performers.

Some of our Ambassadors love the excitement of big international matches; others simply enjoy a kick in the park with their kids; others just get a kick out of supporting the team that unites Australians the Qantas Socceroos.

Buckley said that the ambassadors will tell their own story, and promote Australia and Australian football as FFA builds towards its aspirations to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Australia.

The coming month will be an exciting time for football fans as the Qantas Socceroos embark on five matches in five weeks in Super June, including two World Cup Qualifiers here in Australia presented by FOXTEL.

We are also gearing up to host the FIFA Congress in Sydney next week with delegates from the other 207 member nations of FIFA involving around 2,000 visitors from football globally as well a contingent of international media.

This is a great event for Sydney and it is also an exciting opportunity for us to position Australia as a potential host for significant football tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup (2009 and 2010), the Asian Football Confederation's Asian Cup (2015) and the FIFA World Cup (2018), Buckley said.

The ambassadors named by Buckley today include:

Ahmed Fahour, CEO, National Australia Bank
Alex Perry, fashion designer
Anthony La Paglia, actor
Cameron Williams, television presenter
George Negus, journalist verhead:
Geraldine Doogue, journalist
Ian Thorpe, sportsman
Jeff Fenech, sportsman  :'(
John Stanley, radio presenter
Karl Stefanovic, television presenter
Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport
Mike Conway, representing The Wiggles
Stephanie Brantz, television presenter
Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

 

[Alicia]

Alex Perry FFS!!

Maybe the article should read FFA appoints football ambassadors who are on Foxtel's payroll.

For example: Alex Perry and Ian Thorpe

 

[Jesus]

Where are steve waugh and andrew johns. Both huge names in aussie sport who are fans of the game

 

[Gen (MarinerMum)]

Frank's Foxtel Associates by CEO Ben uuckly Franks friend & Allie

Karl Stef...... no ambassador for me just a shovanist. (however, it's spelt)
Shame we had to rope in Fenech no ambassador either

 

[Gen (MarinerMum)]

Sorry to put geraldine doogue and george negintheguts in the same group as Karl and Jeff

 

[serious14]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Stephanie Brantz.

Simon Hill is a very lucky man......

 

[dibo]

Frank's Foxtel Associates by CEO Ben uuckly Franks friend & Allie

Karl Stef...... no ambassador for me just a shovanist. (however, it's spelt)
Shame we had to rope in Fenech no ambassador either

chauvinist

brantz, stefanovic - does this mean channel 9 are getting interested?

 

[marinermick]

Frank's Foxtel Associates by CEO Ben uuckly Franks friend & Allie

Karl Stef...... no ambassador for me just a shovanist. (however, it's spelt)
Shame we had to rope in Fenech no ambassador either

chauvinist

brantz, stefanovic - does this mean channel 9 are getting interested?

i would not read too much in thes two as both are massive football supporters

 

[swarey]

Maybe I've had way too many beers (again) but other than Stephanie, where is the football knowledge coming from??????  One would think (expect) that at least some of these "AMBASSADORS" should be in possession of a decent level of football knowledge....

 

[marinermick]

Maybe I've had way too many beers (again) but other than Stephanie, where is the football knowledge coming from??????  One would think (expect) that at least some of these "AMBASSADORS" should be in possession of a decent level of football knowledge....

big assumption saying that they don't have a decent level of football knowledge especially when people like george negus was on the soccer australia board and la paglia played national league

 

[Paolo]

why have fenech and thorpe as ambassadors when we could have people who actually played the sport as ambassadors

 

[Gen (MarinerMum)]

Thanks for the spell check dibo.

I do have to say though, channel nine does push football more on the morning shows than does seven or ten.  Channel seven heavily AFL because of their slant.  I emailed them a number of times about putting more football on but makes no difference.

 

[scottmac]

Where are steve waugh and andrew johns. Both huge names in aussie sport who are fans of the game

This point IMO is an oversight by FFA. Waugh would have been the perfect ambasador, and Johns the chance to steal the halfback of the century for our sport.

 

[adz]

why have fenech and thorpe as ambassadors when we could have people who actually played the sport as ambassadors

I think the idea is to get "celebs" that people who don't know who footballers are will still know? They can spread the word about how good football is?