Dave “Flyer” Kainey, pictured here after the Inaugural ANZAC Friendship Match in 2010, reflects on last weekend at the Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau.
David “Flyer” Kainey is an Official Legend of both the Jakarta Bintangs and the Vietnam Swans. He also attended last weekend’s ANZAC Friendship Match at the Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau.
Below, the Flyer reflects on the 2013 ANZAC Friendship Weekend.
To the Hanoi, Saigon and National Presidents, Committee members, Jakarta Bintangs, players from both teams, players from the Legends game, Vietnam Veterans and families and friends from both clubs, your commitment to this event has allowed the ANZAC Friendship Match to stand alone as an important date on the football calendar.
When Phil Johns informed me that the ANZAC Friendship Match would also include the Kainey Cup, I nodded to myself. After a short pause, with the news sinking in, I was a very proud man.
For me, it all starts on the 25th April at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. After the ceremony and respecting the fallen, my thoughts turn to ANZAC Day football. As I see it, ANZAC Day football matches provide the impetus for players to play with the courage and fairness that exemplifies the ANZAC spirit, a spirit that mirrors how the Vietnam Swans and the Jakarta Bintangs go about their football.
The preliminary Legends Game provided glimpses of skill, wide turning arcs, passion and, above all, it was a crowd pleaser.
The Main game showed just how much respect the teams have for each other. It was a closely contested game where all players gave their all for their club colours.
There was no finer player on field in the match than Dukesy. A fierce competitor, a gentleman and one of Asian Football’s finest. The game was played in great spirit. Even a Swannies wayward defensive punch that missed the ball resulted in… play on! It was further testament of the esteem each club holds for each other. Both sides were at the Lord Mayor’s Oval in Vung Tau to play football.
To the players who played in games last weekend, thanks for your preparation, effort and the spirit in which you played the games. Last weekend’s ANZAC Friendship Match, and others in the region, have truly been a catalyst for the sport of Australian Rules Football and The ANZAC Spirit.
Congratulations to the Jakarta Bintangs on a gutsy win. The Kainey Cup is now sitting in Aphros in Jakarta. It would be awesome to see it sitting in a bar in Vietnam.
Last Saturday was a great day.
