Perth-based soccer team to play in Asian league comp

29/7/93

A Perth-based professional soccer team will next year become the first Australian side to play in an Asian league competition.

Sport and Recreation Minister Doug Shave said all the necessary approvals had been obtained for the Perth side to play in the Singapore National Premier League in the playing season beginning January 1994.

The Minister said the initiative was a first for any football code in Australia and was of major significance for Western Australia in its attempts to strengthen its sporting and economic ties with Asian countries.

Soccer Administration of WA (SAWA) and the Australian Soccer Federation have approved the invitation from the Singapore soccer authorities for a Perth team to join that country's major competition with weekly matches on a home-and-away basis.

"I congratulate SAWA and WA soccer in general for this achievement which has the full support of the State Government," Mr Shave said.

"It is the kind of initiative which the WA Government is actively pursuing as part of its goal to ensure that Western Australia takes full advantage of the sporting, business and commercial opportunities available in Asia."

Mr Shave said the Soccer Administration of WA would now call for applications from business concerns for the licence to establish and manage under franchise from SAWA the Perth soccer team which would take part in both the Singapore competition next January and the National Soccer League later next year.

The Perth team becomes eligible to join the NSL in October 1994.

Mr Shave urged business organisations in WA to examine the franchise offer for the Perth team. 

"It offers considerable potential to business groups or syndicates which might be seeking to establish or strengthen economic ties in the buoyant Asian market," he added.

"Soccer is the major sport in Asia and has strong backing from business connections."

The President of SAWA, Tom Mackay, said applications for the licence to run the new Perth team should be sent to him by August 20.

"The Singapore venture will be the first time a team from any of the football codes in Australia has played in the major competition of a foreign country," he added.

"It is going to give the sport a tremendous boost in this State and will give us a thorough build-up to our entry to the Coca Cola National Soccer League in October next year."

Mr Mackay said the President of the Professional Soccer League of WA, Mr Frank Schaper, had spent considerable time in Singapore arranging sponsorship for the Perth team.

The venture would have important benefits for the junior and amateur sectors of the code in WA as well as for the professional players.

Media contact: Minister's Office 325 4133 or Tom Mackay 383 7878