The Bogor/Hanoi Flyer, Dave Kainey prepares for his debut match for the Swannies in the Swannies’ first, Hanoi, 2003.

On 11 November 2012, the Vietnam Swans Hall of Fame was launched. Three outstanding Swannies were inducted. Inductee No.2 was Dave “Flyer” Kainey.

The Hanoi Swans hit the international stage in November, 2003 at the Hanoi Invitational Cup which was played between Hanoi, Thailand and Hong Kong.

One of the debut players in the debut team was already a veteran of Asian footy; Dave “Flyer” Kainey. Dave had been living in Bogor (just east of Jakarta), Indonesia, where amongst other things, he had been playing for the Jakarta Bintangs. In 2003, the year that Dave moved to Hanoi, the Bintangs inducted Dave into their Club’s Hall of Fame.

At the Hanoi Invitational, as the Swannies began to forge our reputation as great hosts, there was an official 2003 Hanoi Footy Record. In the “Profiles” section, the entry for the Flyer read:

“Playing his debut game for the Swans, the former ‘Bogor Flyer’ has now suited up for the Bloods (Swannies). Expecting some drive through the middle from the former Jakarta Bintang who has helped create an Australian Rules Football frenzy in Hanoi since his arrival. Been known to sleep with his footy.”

It still remains a great summary of the man who played a key role in shifting footy in Hanoi from the couch and onto the paddock. He just loves footy where ever and with who ever, especially in Asia. And he thinks it’s way too good not to happen.

The Jakarta Bintangs were one of the founding clubs of Asian footy. The Bintangs were established in 1995 and played in the first ever Asian Championships in 2000. That meant Dave, Official Bintangs’ Legend, came from good stock and was well positioned to share his experience with the Hanoi Swans about footy in Asia.

Dave helped out in organising the Hanoi Invitational primarily by using his connections made while at the Jakarta Bintangs to make contact with both the Thailand Tigers and the Hong Kong Dragons who ended up playing in the tournament.

In 2004 things went off the boil in terms of internationals (ie, none were played). We only trained on Thursday nights under (candle) lights and the occasional Saturday at Hoang Cau Stadium which affectionately became known as Dead Cat Stadium after, surprisingly, a dead cat was found in the middle of the ground. However, that year, Sydney Swans President, Richard Colless, dropped into Hanoi and met up with the boys and even donated 20 spanking new Sydney Swans jumpers! Further, Andy Wall from Jim Beam, who had supplied the original woolen Sydney jumpers, was back on the scene providing the Club with Jim Beam (of course) and Beam-branded shirts and thongs! Here we were getting a taste of some of the benefits of being a Club. Imagine what would be possible if we could develop this further…

Dave Kainey slept with the footy and took the Swannies to Malaysia in our first international tour in 2005. Note fellow Hall of Famer, Scott Stacey (beard).

In 2005, Dave’s wife, Tania scored a mega sized promotion – in Singapore. Great for Tania but bad for the Swannies! The switch was flicked inside Dave’s head. Time was running out. To tell stories of Asian footy and the Asian Champs was no longer enough. The Hanoi Swans had to experience a tour first hand and that had to happen before he handed over the reigns to his anointed successor, Daryl Taber. Once the Swannies had the taste of a tour, the Swannies would be hooked and would then become part of the Asian footy circuit.

28 May 2005 was the nominated date for the Hanoi Swans to play the Malaysian Warriors in Kuala Lumpur. All efforts were focussed on that one, singular event.

In the end, the Swannies were able to muster a team of 15 players. It was a gallant performance by the under manned Swannies but the Warriors, with fresher legs came up trumps on the field. Off the field, the Swannies came up trumps with the trip being declared an outstanding success. Stories abounded about how much fun footy was in Asia and we needed to “keep at it”.

And so, although it killed him to have to move to Singapore and resign the Hanoi Swans’ Presidency, Dave knew that he had succeeded. In Hanoi, the genie of Asian footy was now out of the bottle.

Today, the quote we have on the ‘farewell trophies’ that are given to each Swannie who is leaving Vietnam says, “You can leave the country, but not the Club. Honk!”. It is Dave, and many other non resident Swannies who have inspired that quote.

Dave may live outside of Vietnam but he is still very much a Swannie. Living in Singapore doesn’t stop him attending the Asian Champs, Indochina Cups, ANZAC Friendship Matches, matches against the Jakarta Bintangs (where we now play for the Kainey Cup), other friendlies, golf days, cricket days, celebration soirees etc. Further, when Dave attends these events, he’s always mixing with all the players, including the newbies. He wants to know everyone and their stories because they are now an active part of the developing Swannies’ story. In the process, Dave’s presence helps to provide the new players with an understanding and appreciation of the Club’s history.

Left, the all new Swannies’ jumpers arrive in Singapore just prior to the Swannies making our inaugural appearance at the Champs. Two jumpers stopped by with Dave and Andy Wall in the Jim Beam bar! Right, last September, Dave and Damo Judd randomly meet at Phnom Penh airport both wearing Swannies shirts.

En route to attending so many mega Swannies functions, we often ask Dave to be a mule from Singapore – whether that be delivering boxes of new Swannies jumpers or special items for auction (eg the Essendon jumper auctioned in Hanoi after the Indochina Cup a fortnight ago that was signed by James Hird and Jobe Watson). He’s just always wanting to help out the Swannies.

Another great asset of Dave’s is that, with his network, he has a very good idea about what individual clubs are doing around the region as well as what Asian footy is doing in general. Being physically located outside of Vietnam, Dave sits outside the “Swannies’ bubble” and therefore is an excellent sounding board for various ideas as well as providing insightful suggestions and reflections.

In addition, when he’s not being a mule or attending Mega Swannies’ Functions, Dave’s usually wearing his Swannies polo shirts – such as when he bumped into fellow Swannie, Damo Judd who was also wearing his polo shirt last month at Phnoom Penh airport (see photo above)!

Dave Kainey, you were the fourth Official Legend to be inducted into the Jakarta Bintangs’ Hall of Fame. In the Swannies’ Hall of Fame, you are the Club’s second inductee. Your influence and contribution to the development of the Swannies, and Asian football more generally, is significant and greatly valued. Congratulations and thank you!