CommBank Pararoos goalkeeper Christian Tsangas and coach Kai Lammert said that the Pararoos can go all the way as they prepare for the IFCPF Asian Oceania Championships at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne, on 4 – 11 November 2023.
Tsangas and Lammert spoke to the media at the squad announcement event at Federation Square on Monday.
“It’s a great opportunity to not only represent our country but also to play in front of the people that have supported us along the way, to give back to them and to show them how far we’ve come and how much we’ve worked,” Tsangas said when asked about what it will mean to play at home.
“I think it’ll be a special day for all of us, and hopefully we can go all the way in the tournament.”
The tournament is the first time that the CommBank Pararoos will have played in competitive fixtures at home since the Sydney 2000 Olympics. CommBank Pararoos coach Kai Lammert can’t wait to get started.
“A lot of them weren’t around for that or were in primary school during the Sydney Olympics, so we’re all very excited to get started,” he said.
For Tsangas, the tournament is an opportunity to leave a legacy.
“We always talk about leaving a legacy and that’s what we want to do, we want to inspire the next generation of kids with cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury to look at us and hopefully they can say to themselves, that’s what I want to do one day, I want to play for the Pararoos or the Paramatildas,” he explained.
“That’s our aim, to leave a legacy and hopefully that can happen and we can encourage a better future for football in Australia.”
Tsangas believes that in a squad with talent like Daniel Campbell and Connor Bunce, goalscorers and technical players, the CommBank Pararoos have the talent to go all the way.
“We have the belief and hopefully we can get as many people down there to encourage us and hopefully get us over the line,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by his coach.
“Yes, of course [we can go all the way],” Lammert said. “We go into every game to win and this is no different now.”
“While we’re focusing on the first game, and then on the second game, I’m still convinced we can win every game.”
Tsangas appealed to fans to get out and watch the CommBank Pararoos and ParaMatildas on home soil next month.
“I think they should come out and support us to see a different kind of football, one that is unique and very diverse,” he said. “It’s supporting people with a disability, people with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury.”
“We want to leave a legacy where we can impact the next generation and encourage them to get involved in things like this. Growing our game and getting more exposure, hopefully, that leads to more people coming and getting involved, discovering CP football, and hopefully, they can enjoy it.”
You can catch the CommBank ParaRoos and the CommBank ParaMatildas at the IFCPF Asian Oceania Championships. They will be held from 4 – 11 November 2023 at the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora, Melbourne.
You can find more information including how to buy tickets and the schedule here.