MEDIA RELEASE – AUSTRALIA LOOKS TO DO WELL IN TABLE FOOTBALL’S ASIAN CUP
The Australian Table Football Association is proud to announce its squad for the 2016 Asian Cup of Table Football, to be held this weekend in Singapore. Six Australians will make the journey with four players from the Northern Falcons club in Sydney and one each from Subbuteo Parramatta and Melbourne TFC. The Falcons will also compete in the team event where they will defend their title as the top club in Asia, whilst the Australian national team will seek to win their maiden Asian Cup after a heartbreaking defeat to Singapore in the inaugural edition held in Melbourne in 2015.
The brainchild of Melbourne player Benji Batten, the Asian Cup concept was created in 2014 with the purpose of bringing together Subbuteo players from all of the countries in Asia to compete for the crown of the best player/club/country in Asia. The first edition was held in Melbourne in 2015 and now Subbuteo Table Football Association of Singapore (TFAS) have taken the reigns for 2016 and added their own unique touches.
ATFA President Steve Dettre is a legend of the game and has co-ordinated the traveling contingent magnificently. After a quarter-final placing in the 2015 edition, Steve could be a dark horse to stir up the pot in Singapore. Dettre is excited about the Asian Cup, and the growth of the game throughout Asia.
“We have huge growth in Japan, and have just concluded a deal with J-League clubs” said Dettre. “Iran, Indonesia, China … everybody is getting on board now”
When asked about the Australians’ chances, Steve Dettre explained – “Peter Thomas is the current Asian Cup (individual) champion and will be looking to defend his title in Singapore. Raffaele Lombardi will be playing in his 3rd FISTF event in Singapore, and after impressive showings in the 2015 FISTF World Cup and the Australian Open and Grand Prix events, the lone representative of Subbuteo Parramatta will be hoping for some good results. Eliot Kennedy is no stranger to the international scene having represented Australia at the 1994 World Cup and the 2015 Asian Cup. He is a stern competitor and unknown to many Asian players, Eliot could well be the surprise packet of the tournament. Johnny Ball played with the Falcons at the 2015 Asian Cup where he reached the barrage round. Ball also played at the 2015 International Open of Singapore. Simon Cole rounds out the Australian contingent, the 2016 Asian Cup is Simons first tournament overseas and we hope he does well.”
Table Football, or “Subbuteo” as it is widely known, is a game simulating association football. For many years it was marketed as “the replica of Association Football” or “Table Soccer”.
The Asian Cup of Table Football will be held at the Singapore Sports Hub this weekend 11-12 June (9.00-6.00 daily)
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