THE BORDER WATCH ARTICLE - THE ROUND BALL SUPERSTARS

The Round Ball Community Football Development Program was the toast of
the soccer community on the weekend when Director of Football Scott
Dickson’s brainwave to back local talent against their city
counterparts paid off.

Only a fortnight ago he reported to The Border Watch that Mount
Gambier’s junior players were every bit as good as those in the city
and now his beliefs have been confirmed with all three locally
sponsored juniors making it into the top 10 to represent South
Australia at the top 50 weekend in Melbourne for the FOX8 reality TV
series Football Superstar.

Callum Ferguson, Thomas Renzi and Cameron Hart were selected to
represent the region a week ago during pre-trials run by the Round
Ball Community Football Development Program and were offered an all-
expenses-paid package to attend the Adelaide Roadshow by Steplen
Constructions.

The boys’ performances in Adelaide delighted Dickson.

“I could not be happier with the results and the boys performance at
Marden Stadium on the weekend. The boys worked hard under very
difficult conditions. It was very hot, the standard of applicants was
very high and the television crew filming every move made it very hard
for all the boys.”

The roadshow started with a turning and shooting test at a goal target
and it was Hart who led the competition after the dribble and turn
test and the passing test. The fourth test involved players passing
three balls at a target 35 metres away and the fifth test was an
agility test. Renzi performed well in the passing and agility sprints
and Ferguson also made his way up the leader board.

The sixth and final test was the 1 v 1 component with the highest
placed competitors playing against the lower ranked individuals and it
was Renzi who competed first and was held to a three all draw. Both
Hart and Ferguson had to win their battles and despite the oppressive
heat Hart won 9 goals to 2 and Ferguson crushed his opponent 9 nil.

All the applicants were then assembled in the middle of the pitch and
were called forth one by one to face head coach and mentor to the
final 15 Vitale Ferrante. Each boy then walked forward and in front of
the cameras and was informed of their fate. With baited breath Hart
finished fourth, Ferguson fifth and Renzi held on despite the draw to
finish in ninth position.

The top 10 were then assembled in front of the cameras and given
official invitations to the next stage of the series: the Top 50
Weekend in Melbourne.

Series producer of Football Superstar Marty Benson was full of praise
for the boys, “I was really excited by the talent from Mt Gambier, it
was great to see their drive and determination.”

He also praised the initiative and the work that Dickson has done for
the development of football across the region.

“Bringing players all the way from Mt Gambier to Adelaide underscores
just how massive football is in this country. They’re great players,
and they could be the rough diamond Ernie Merrick is looking for.”

The next stage of the competition will see the boys flown on an all-
expenses-paid trip to Melbourne over the weekend of April 24 and 25 to
be put through their paces by Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick.

At the end of the weekend the boys will once again be handed their fate.

This time, however, the prize will be much greater – an opportunity to
move to Melbourne for a month, live in the Football Superstar mansion
and be vying for the ultimate prize of becoming the new Football
Superstar, signing a professional contract with the current A-Leaguechampions and a one-year scholarship to Monash University.