Unacceptable conduct by Capital Football.
I'm going to be transparent and diplomatic here as much as possible. Yesterday's confirmation saddened me. As a local in Canberra, being able to see my hometown, and my home region competing in the National Premier Leagues gave me hope. It gave me hope for the Joey Schrippa's who made it to the NSL in the past. It gave me hope for the Pearson Kasawaya's of today getting into the A-Leagues. And while there is no women's component of Wagga City Wanderers and Yoogali at the moment - it gives me hope that the Tyra Bagiante's and Mary Dal Broi's wouldn't have to uproot to Sydney for their dream - that there was a pathway right on their doorstep. That's the dream Capital Football gave us when Riverina Rhinos were introduced into the competition in 2017. We were written off. We were told we were farmers. And times got tough there too. We were demolished by the best teenagers in the country. The first two years in the NPL, Riverina didn't finish last. But from some clubs, we were still treated as we weren't good enough. Politics and agendas got in the way, and the Rhinos were disbanded after being relegated (on the field) in 2019. And to be honest with you, that's why I stopped volunteering for Rhinos at the end of 2018 - because I thought I didn't like agendas.
I've never supported this club. My last game I attended in 2010 before uprooting to Canberra was the Griffith Football Grand Final - Yoogali Soccer Club hosted, as they earned their right to, having won the major semi-final. But as the heavens aligned for them, they qualified for the Grand Final in all four grades, against Griffith City Football Club, West Griffith Soccer Club, Hanwood Football Club and Yoogali Football Club. One by one, each club knocked off Yoogali, much to my delight, and I thought it was the perfect send-off.
Fast forward 10 years later, and Yoogali SC have taken over the NPL Licence of Riverina Rhinos - and 2020 saw the Derby della Riverina as the Grand Final against Wagga City - another club I spent a year with as they adjusted from the NSW State League into what was then NPL2.
But, my time with the Rhinos did see me become familiar with the faces of Yoogali Soccer Club - and as long as Yoogali were representing Griffith at the highest level, they had my support. As long as Wagga City were also representing the region at this level, they had my support. My family has a rich history with Hanwood Football Club - and it was disappointing to see that they had been blocked from entering Capital Football in the same review report that condemned Yoogali and Wagga City.
I'm not going to talk anymore about the decision to cut Yoogali from Capital Football from next season, and to reduce Wagga City's involvement as well - I've stood up for Riverina, respectfully over the past few months. And I'd be doing it regardless of which club is representing Griffith.
What I will speak about is what I believe has been the mismanagement of this situation from a personal standpoint. Yesterday I posted one final defence for Yoogali and Griffith Football. I tagged every club in Capital Football - and then when it came time to let Capital Football know my thoughts, they had disappeared. I'd been blocked. Why? Well, I'm unsure. The Capital Football Social Media policy states that:
'Inappropriate comments may be subject to action under the Capital Football Disputes and Disciplinary Regulations. The following process will be followed, although Capital Football reserves the right to use a different process to act upon serious offences:
First offence: The commenter’s Club will be contacted and a formal Warning will be issued to the commenter.
Second offence: The commenter will be banned from commenting on the Capital Football Facebook page for a specified time.
Third offence: The commenter will be charged to appear before the Capital Football Disciplinary Tribunal.'
Yoogali SC and Wagga City (as far as my knowledge extends) were not contacted about any of my social media activity. I personally was not contacted either. I received no warning, so I gather that it's been deemed that I was a 'serious offender'.
I wrote to Capital Football yesterday asking for evidence of my apparent harassment/defamatory behaviour, and let them know that I fully intend to take this to Football Australia's Integrity Unit.
I have not been contacted. I have had no evidence provided. I have however been unblocked.
I may not be Yoogali, and I may not be Wagga. But I was the loudest voice in the room. And Capital Football tried to take that voice from me yesterday. No notes. No warning. No apology. Conveniently timed to coincide with the final announcement of their review that I strongly disagreed with. I'm not going to tag them in this post. Other than the referees (yet another stable of Canberra Football I've spent time with), this organisation doesn't deserve that respect from me, if they aren't going to communicate or apologise. There are certain people in the organisation that I do still have that respect for. I'm not going to name them on either side.
But anyways, happy birthday to me from Capital Football I suppose - I'm no longer censored.
Good luck Canberra.