Former Prez, Dave Kainey, reflects about the Swannies from Singapore

Dave Kainey, former Swans President and Club Legend of the Jakarta Bintangs, reflects about the Vietnam Swans after the ANZAC Friendship Match.

Gentlemen, what a cracking inaugural ANZAC Friendship Cup game in Vung Tau and pleasant Sunday afternoon of beers and BBQ at the Vietnam Swans base in Vung Tau. The quality of play and playing group was outstanding and was an indicator that the Vietnam Swans will be competitive at the Asian Championships later this year in Shanghai.

The ensuing ferry trip back to Saigon and flight to Singapore allowed me some time to reflect on the journey of the Vietnam Swans Australian Football Club.

Discussions based on football and what could be achieved in Vietnam back in 2003 included references to the Jakarta Bintangs, as that club, to me, epitomised what a football club should represent – particularly for their commitment to community service, promotion of football within Indonesia for Indonesians and for their genuine love of the great game of Australian Rules Football.

Let’s move on 7 years from then and it is difficult to identify an Asian Australian Rules Football Club that does the above and more, than the Vietnam Swans. This could not happen without the commitment to improving every aspect of the Vietnam Swans set-up, particularly through the tireless work of National President, Phil Johns and the Presidents (Derrin and Willy) and Committees of both Hanoi and Saigon, the players, their wives / girlfriends.

A sensational effort.

I am very proud to be associated with the Vietnam Swans Australian Rules Football Club, the marquee sports club of South East Asia.

STOP PRESS: New photos from Ross McRae and Mic Smith of the ANZAC Friendship Match have now been added to the Swans’ on line Photo Album. Click here.