Steve MacDonald’s own dreams of football stardom ended long ago, but his passion for the game shines through as the coach of the Desert Eagles in the Kalgoorlie Kick It. Fives competition.
With their bright yellow colour scheme the Eagles cannot be missed on the Goldfields Oasis Playing Fields.
But what makes them standout even more is the fact they hail from the tiny nickel mining centre of Kambalda, 60km south of Football West’s Kick It. hub in Kalgoorlie.
MacDonald, who represented the Goldfields four times at Country Week in his teenage years, is one of the hard-working members of the Kambalda United Junior Soccer Club, which fields teams in MiniRoos grades in the Goldfields Soccer Association.
Player numbers have dwindled on account of Fly-in Fly-out workforces and a collapse in the nickel trade, but a small group of volunteers have kept the wheels turning in recent years.
“It is (tough), especially at these times with the whole mining thing, where fly-in fly-out has really jeopardised the town, so it is a very small club,” MacDonald said.
“It used to be very big but we do have quite a few people there (still) who are very passionate about soccer.”
No small-sided grades were running in Kalgoorlie-Boulder this year after the impact of coronavirus restrictions.
So the Desert Eagles (named after their town’s traditional sporting mascot) and an older team of players from Kambalda and Coolgardie, the Dust Devils, put their names forward for Kick It Fives.
The Desert Eagles’ small contingent has been bolstered by a couple signings from Kalgoorlie with the team’s youngest member, Azarya Cruickshank, making the long journey south to Kambalda to attend training.
MacDonald is hopeful the positive team environment keeps spirits high for the return of club competitions next year.
“There was a little fire that was burning ready to go and I was very excited (when Kick It was announced),” he said. “I’m very privileged to be able to coach this little team for this little season and I’m looking forward to next year.
“It’s all about the kids and them having fun and learning skills.”
Filed Under: Community News