Dingoes a cut above the rest
- Luke Simmonds
- Nov 13, 2016
- 2 min read
Nathan Walker has capped off the biggest year in his career after coaching the Caboolture Snakes to a debut Capital League 4 title, by winning the inaugural National Indigenous Football Championship.
Walker starred on the field for the South East Queensland Dingoes at the tournament in Nowra, NSW this weekend.
Before shipping off, the Dingoes were hosted by Walker's beloved Caboolture Snakes in a pre-tournament friendly where the Dingoes came up trumps 1-0.
"It's good, it gives indigenous players exposure; shows we're not all bad; some are a bit switched on, and we get to show where we come from,” Walker said.
"Archie Thompson and Jade North are a couple of indigenous boys in the A-League, but it's pretty rare to see to see indigenous boys at the top level.
"It's starting to come through, so hopefully this will create a pathway for indigenous players to the A-League.”
One man who has been fighting tooth and nail for a Football Federation Australia commissioned Aboriginal tournament for the past 13 years is Dingoes Coach Allan Takken.
Takken played in the first indigenous tournament as a 15-year-old, but because it wasn't FFA sanctioned, the tournament went broke and fell apart.
Now 28 and plagued by a career of injuries, Takken has become a coach and advocate for indigenous football.
"I work in indigenous areas with teams in remote areas of Queensland,” Takken said.
"I see the limited opportunity in remote areas - it opens your eyes up to a lot when you got to these places and it makes you passionate about things.
"A lot of indigenous boys stick to what's comfortable and just play in the lower leagues where they can just be themselves.
"This tournament gives them a chance to shine in front of A-League scouts and really get seen.”
Article C/o- Caboolture News
Photos C/o- MMM Photography, Nathan Walker and Jack Hayes.
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