Bondi United back on the ball

The boycott of games against Bondi United FC by five other Eastern Suburbs football clubs is shelved.

Maroubra United FC, Queens Park SC, Easts Football Club, Pagewood–Botany FC and Maccabi Junior Football Club wanted to boycott all games against Bondi United FC in the Eastern Suburbs competition. The clubs said Bondi United registered players after the required deadline of November 2008.

Jeff Saul, general manager of the Eastern Suburbs Football Association (ESFA), said the players it concerned were part of a new club that wanted to enter the Eastern Suburbs competition, Bondi Beach.
“They did not meet the player registration requirements and were not allowed into the competition,” he said. “Therefore they spoke with Bondi United and agreed that Bondi Beach’ junior’s teams would become part of United.”

Although this solved Bondi Beach’s problem, the other five clubs disagreed.
“Some players of Bondi Beach played for the other clubs before. These clubs objected that Bondi United developed junior players through this measure. Therefore they wanted to boycott the junior’s games of Bondi United,” said Saul.

The dispute threatened the whole Eastern Suburbs Football competition. Saul said that if the five clubs had maintained their opposition, it would have endangered the whole competition.

“The games of the senior and all other teams would have been in danger as well. But after a meeting with all clubs the five clubs agreed to commence playing all games against Bondi United,” he said. “We are very happy with this outcome and looking forward to the rest of the competition.”

The ESFA also agreed to review the registration requirements for new clubs to prevent problems in the future.

– By Adriaan Zegers