Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Qantas Australian U23s and Melbourne Heart defender, Aziz Behich, has been appointed as FFA’s inaugural Victorian Community Football Ambassador.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that Qantas Australian U23s and Melbourne Heart defender, Aziz Behich, has been appointed as FFA-s inaugural Victorian Community Football Ambassador.
Behich will promote a range of community programs and activities across Victoria, including;
• MyFootballClub national online community football registration • Community player registration drive in 2012 • Community coaching courses
Behich, 21, was born and bred in Melbourne and played his junior and youth football with Green Gully SC in Melbourne-s north-west suburbs. He then began his senior football career with the same club before signing with Melbourne Victory in the National Youth League in 2008.
He later went on to play 5 matches for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season. At the end of that season he played with Hume City in the Victorian Premier League and was then picked up by Melbourne Heart for the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season where he has been ever since making 50 appearances to date. Behich is also a key member of the Qantas Australian U23s team with seven appearances to his name.
Behich was humbled by the honour of being the first Victorian community football ambassador.
“Football has given me many opportunities and taught me important life lessons,” said Behich.
“I began playing from a young age and made many life-long friends along the way.
“I hope that in my new role I can inspire other junior players to play football and experience the same enjoyment that I had as a kid which is the same as the feeling I have as an adult.
FFA CEO Ben Buckley said Behich-s appointment was another significant milestone of FFA-s Community Football Ambassador program which began with the appointment of Brett Emerton and Heather Garriock as National Ambassadors last November.
“Aziz is a great example of how getting involved with your local football club at a young age can lead to bigger things like playing professional club football and representing your country,” said Buckley.
“He is a proud Victorian with a great football future ahead of him and a great role model for young boys and girls around the state to aspire to.
“We look forward to working with Aziz and Football Federation Victoria to get more Victorians involved in the sport of football,” concluded Buckley.