Jaidyn Kennedy
The AFL Pakistan Women’s team is short $8000 for the airfares its need to send their 15 players to the 2024 AFL Asia Cup in Vietnam and they need your help.
AFL Pakistan Men’s and Women’s volunteer coach Michael Gallus, who is also head of sport at Christway College in Wyndham Vale, is leading the charge.
Mr Gallus has been in the voluntary position since 2017 and will be embarking on his third journey to Pakistan on November 28 to promote the sport, before selecting and training the men’s and women’s squads to compete in Ho Chi Minh across December 5-7.
Elite athletes from many sporting backgrounds, the players have been training twice a week under Mr Gallus’ direction over late night Zoom sessions.
“They don’t have the same opportunities to gain funding for their travel expenses like the men do,” he said.
The majority of women in Pakistan are unable to work or gain business sponsorships.”
In his mission to level the playing field for female athletes in Pakistan, Mr Gallus has met with Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez and hopes to meet with the nation’s president or prime minister.
“I believe that when we have an opportunity to break this cycle and make these life changing opportunities then we work as hard as we can to make them happen no matter what the challenges.”
In spite of advice from the federal government to not travel to Pakistan, Mr Gallus is inspired and driven by the courage and the tenacity of the athletes.
“Pakistani women are the toughest in the world and they need this opportunity to show their nation and the world this fact.”
AFL has been played in Pakistan since 2014 and continues to grow, with eight different AFL and four AFLW teams in operation across the country.
To donate: www.mycause.com.au/p/354437/uniforms-for-the-pakistan-womens-afl-team-at-the-2024-afl-asia-cup
