Penalties At Bootleg

Thursday, 31 May 2007 01:49

A penalty is considered a certain goal in a soccer game to the side that is awarded one. But is it? Too often the pressure of the situation on the players – even the champions - proves too much and they miss the target. The Dunsborough Town soccer club will put the theory of a certain goal to the test with a penalty competition at the Bootleg Brewery on a date yet to be decided late in March.

To make the task of scoring all the more difficult two of WA’s leading goalkeepers of the past in Anthony Franken and Tommy Maras have agreed to travel South to stand between the posts to try and thwart the efforts of the penalty takers.

The Bootleg Brewery will sponsor the competition with a shield that the club hopes will become an annual event. “We are inviting all the clubs in the South West Football Association to nominate three players for the shootout,” said Dunsborough Town president Tony Plumb. “It should make for a great day with lunch and Bootleg’s famous brew to quench the thirst”.

Mr Plumb said that he had requested the South West Association support the concept to help promote the game in the South West and encourage clubs to participate and nominate three players each for the shoot-out.

“The two goalkeepers in question are among the best to have played for Australia and WA,” said Plumb. Franken is the current goalkeeping coach for the national socceroos side having been selected for Australia on more than 20 occasions.

Maras is a former State goalkeeper and enjoyed an extensive career with WA’s national league side “The Glory”. “We hope that all clubs in the Association will participate and I would hope they nominate their players by the end of next week so we can finalize the date for the competition.” said Mr. Plumb.