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Australia’s leading table footballers will lock horns this Saturday as the Australian Table Football Association (ATFA) stage their Australian Open for 2016. Table football is recognised as the most realistic simulation of football, and is a competitive game based on the table top game of Subbuteo. FIFA has numerous displays of Subbuteo in its museum in Zurich. The Federation of International Sports Table Football FISTF was founded in 1992 and is the governing body of sports table football around the world. Among its many functions it provides oversight for international competitions, produces the world rankings, organises the official world cup, and determines the playing rules for the game. Member nations of FISTF (like ATFA) host high quality international tournaments catering for the best Subbuteo players in the world. Zagame’s at Caulfield is the venue for the tournament which features Australia’s top-ranked players. ATFA president Steve Dettre, a table footballer with 40 years’ experience is excited at the growth of the sport both in Australia, and worldwide. “Kids, adults, families and soccer fans are looking for more social and skilful ways to simulate the game, and are turning away from TV screens and monitors, and joining our ranks” he said. “Coaches are using Subbuteo sets to discuss tactics with players, and the elite playing ranks are growing as well. The sport is making a massive comeback in Australia, and around the world” he added. |
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Part of that growth has spawned a new club in Melbourne – Western Flickers, who are keen to establish a cross-town rivalry with Australia’s premier club Melbourne TFC. Benny Ng, a Singaporean international, heads up the Flickers and is excited about the Open being in Melbourne. “I can’t wait to see the first official games between Flickers’ members and Melbourne members” said Ng. Benji Batten the Melbourne president is a good mate, and we were all under the one banner at one stage. We thank him for his service to the sport in Melbourne, but all friendship is put aside once the whistle goes” added Ng. The Australian Open runs all day Saturday with semis-finals and finals starting at 4:30PM. Enquiries: Steve Dettre (Australian Table Football Association) – 0408420234
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