Canberrans have shown up in force to watch the Matildas, and the momentum is only building. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Canberra hasn’t hosted a game or been the base for a team during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but the Matildas have captured the community’s interest in a way that I have only witnessed in the city once before.
The Raiders’ grand final win in 1989 generated scenes I thought would never be repeated, resulting in a spontaneous mass celebration throughout Canberra.
The mania created by the Matildas has been nothing short of a phenomenon.
It has created a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which could change not only women’s football in Canberra, but also women’s sport in general.
Nicole Begg is the only woman coaching an NPLW first grade football team this season. Photo: Supplied.
A couple of weeks ago, Nicole Begg spoke about the need for more support for women to become coaches. She is the only female coaching an NPL 1 women’s football team in Canberra.
Nicole asked the question: Why are there so few female coaches at a high level in women’s football in the ACT?
It should be a priority for Capital Football.
With the interest in women’s football continuing to grow, there will be renewed interest in creating pathways for success in Canberra.
If it’s deemed the pathways aren’t up to standard, young players will look elsewhere. The desire at the moment from so many young women to be Matildas can’t be underestimated.
There is also the issue of pay parity for players in the A-League Women’s competition.
The ACT Government has come to the party, with increased financial support promised.
But there is an argument that financial backing from the ACT Government towards women’s sport in general should be greater.
The Matildas celebrate after winning against France in the quarter final of the 2023 World Cup following a long penalty shootout. Photo: CommBank Matildas Facebook.
And the success of the Matildas, hopefully, will lead to a serious rethink about government support for women’s sport on parity with their male counterparts.
While government financial support is crucial, there should also be a greater emphasis on the business community.
With the Matildas wave sweeping through the city, you would anticipate an upsurge in the participation numbers. This could present a major dilemma, given most Canberra clubs are already at capacity when it comes to facilities.
It’s a dilemma faced by many sports across Canberra as facilities are failing to match the growth in population.
The myth that the broader population isn’t interested in watching women’s sport on television has surely been blown out of the water. The viewer numbers for the Matildas matches have been huge.
They have created a once-in-a-generation momentum to revolutionise women’s sport across Australia. And Canberra is clearly feeling this momentum. Let’s not let this opportunity slip by.
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