I am writing to inform all players that I have resigned as president of the ATFA, due to family reasons, but also work related.
However, I intend on keeping active in the game, playing with the Northern Falcons and attending as many events as I can, and providing advice to the board when asked.
As is only fitting, I have passed on the active organisation of the federation to our Vice President, Benji Batten, and the rest of the board.
It’s not a decision I made lightly, but it has nothing to do with the state of the game or the others on the board, and has everything to do with balancing family and available time.
I am proud of what we have all achieved in the last two years: the game has grown to 14 clubs in Australia, and we have more than 125 active players. That number is growing each week as the new clubs expand and players take part in tournaments.
We have developed deep relationships with other associations and players in our region, forged through Benji’s idea of an Asian Cup of Table Football.
For any players that don’t know Benji, he is the founder of the Melbourne Table Football Club and has been one of the game’s driving forces in its most recent revival. He has already served on the ATFA board as Secretary General, Vice-President and Treasurer whilst organising many of his club’s tournaments and a number of ATFA’s large tournaments, including the 2015 Asian Cup and the 2015 Melbourne International Open.
Benji has been appointed as acting president by the board until ATFA’s Annual General Meeting which will take place before the end of the financial year.
At this meeting, all positions on the board will be up for election. Details of this will be announced to all players in the next few months.
Benji’s first key task will be to take a lead role in organising the 2017 Australian Grand Prix which will take place on February 4th and 5th in Sydney.
I call upon all players to support the ATFA in organising and taking part in the event. Registrations will open very soon, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the event.
Steve Dettre