85 girls competed in the second Bis Regional Girls Soccer Carnival at Steel United Soccer Club in Whyalla.
The participants were girls aged 9-15 years from regional towns in the Spencer Gulf and Far North with a desire to play football. Whyalla hosted girls from Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Gladstone, Peterborough, Crystal Brook, Roxby Downs, Cowell, Tumby Bay, Port Lincoln, and Ceduna.
For the second year running, Bis has sponsored the Steel United carnival with an ethos of creating opportunities for girls to develop their talents as a player. The Tournament was founded with Bis wanting to be heavily involved in the community, now they are able to offer development across the region.
The tournament was a 5 team round-robin competition with 6 games played on the first day and 4 on the second. The evening prior to the beginning of the carnival, Tiarn Powell held a coaching clinic for 25 players.
The carnival showcased the talent of girls from all over regional South Australia. Whyalla Pink were the convincing winners of the competition, Port Lincoln finished in second place, Port Augusta and Districts third, followed by Whyalla Green and Whyalla Blue.
Following the action, Tiarn addressed the young ladies about the pathways that are available to play at a higher level during a final presentation. It was also an opportunity to recognise a number of regional girls who have participated in higher-level pathways from the Spencer Gulf in 2019.
Whyalla's Eden Hopkins and Jiselle Smith and Port Pirie's Bianca and Clarissa Wilkin were acknowledged for their achievement in under 13 State Identification Program. Also, The U11 girls SIP program recognised Nikayla Mercer, Summa Ferguson, Tamzin Mercer, Ava Faulds Tamika Coombe, Janke Koen and Mia Pedler from Whyalla; Esther and Lydia Clarke and Torrie Wilkin from Port Pirie, and Jessie Wilson and Lauren Franklin from Port Lincoln.
Billie Jenkins from Port Lincoln spoke of her experience since last year’s Bis Carnival crediting it with creating a love for the game which has since seen her represent South Australia at the Singa Cup. Also invited to the stage were the regional girls who will be heading to Fiji next month.
Kirsty Arbuckle was heavily involved in the Bis Regional Carnival and left a few words of hope for the future female football.
In 2020 we hope that more opportunities will be delivered in regional areas and Football South Australia will work with me to ensure that we can deliver sensible programs to girls in regional areas to eliminate the barriers of travel that may inhibit girls from pursuing these opportunities.