Club vice-president Mohamad El Dahab said he believed they had won after enjoying phenomenal membership growth of over 30 per cent and having three teams reach a grand final, with two taking out the championship honours, and the women’s team reaching the semi-finals.
“The growth in membership was a big surprise as it happened just after coming out of Covid but we are such a supportive, family friendly club,” he said.
“We also ran a successful academy program for juniors and will be offering them a summer competition starting in November to keep up their soccer skills until our next season starts in April.”
BDAFA General Manager Leanne Millar said everyone was in good spirits at the awards night and it was great to all catch up and celebrate after two years of lockdown.
“In the words of our chairman, Dimitri Hursalas, it’s time for BDAFA to close a difficult time in our history as we leave Covid and the wet weather behind us and embark on a new, positive chapter in 2023,” she said.
“It’s a fantastic time for football in our area with the Men’s World Cup a few weeks away and then the Women’s World Cup being played in Australia next year.”
Other winners were: Club Volunteer of the Year Award: Bankstown Sport Stars FC, Lio Tapalis; Bankstown Sport Strikers FC, Kassem Idriss; Bankstown United FC, Jenny Stone; Bass Hill Rangers FC, Houssan Hallak; Birrong Sports FC, John Williams; Central Sydney Wolves FC, Ronnie Ghajar; Condell Park FC, Juan Carlos Arango; East Bankstown FC, Robert Mearns; Georges River Thistle SFC, Trevor Puckering; Greenacre Eagles FC, Noha Soliman; Milperra Lions FC, Michael Blackmore; North Bankstown SC, Theresa Dinh; Padstow Hornets FC, Brad Morris; Padstow United FC, Alan Sirret; Panania Diggers SC, Andrew Lee; Revesby Rovers FC, Michael Tohmeh; Revesby Workers’ FC, Kenny Dunne; Spears Sports Club, Amro Dennawi; St Christopher’s FC, Jace Gray; Yagoona Lions FC, Stojan Kolevski.
Golden Boot Award: MPL 1 Reserve Grade, Joshua Sorbello, Greenacre Eagles FC, 20 Goals; AAL 1, Renee Williams, Revesby Workers’ FC, 5 Goals; MPL 1 1st Grade, Neil Philippou, Padstow Hornets FC, 33 Goals.
Referee Awards: Junior Referee of the Year, Tea Mucenski; Junior Assistant Referee of the Year, Blake Fitzgibbins; Rookie of the Year, Elana Topalidis; Senior Referee of the Year, Darko Vuljanic.
Gold Medal Awards: MPL1 Reserve Grade, Bronze, Andrew Smithwick, Panania Diggers SC, 32 points; Silver, Michael Christodoulos, Padstow Hornets FC, 38 points; Gold, Mayas Hamdan, Central Sydney Wolves FC, 42 points; All Age Ladies Division 1, Bronze, Emily McGrath, Birrong Sports FC, 10 points; Silver, Olivia Lambkin, Revesby Workers’ FC, 11 points; Gold, Renee Williams, Revesby Workers’ FC, 14 points; MPL 1st Grade, Bronze Esoghume Dominic, Bankstown Sport Strikers FC, 38 points; Silver, Elliot Gurney, Revesby Workers’ FC, 40 points; Gold, John Martinez, Padstow United FC, 48 points.
Life Member Awards: Harry Sklavanitis, Andrew Forster.
