Bootleg Shootout Success

Thursday, 31 May 2007 01:55

The Dunsborough Towners Football club unveiled their initial pre-season penalty competition at the Bootleg Brewery last Sunday with a full house of patrons looking on. The Dunsborough soccer penalty shootout at the Bootleg Brewery came down to a sudden death battle between Dunsborough and Busseleton and it was Busselton who prevailed. The club plans to make the competition an annual event at the same venue for all clubs in the South West Football Association.

This year the star attractions were two of Australia’s best goalkeepers of the past in Australian international Anthony Franken and State and the first Perth Glory goalkeeper Tommy Maras. Both said they were thrilled to have been asked down South for the weekend in a program to promote soccer in the region.

It was a thrill also for Busselton’s young Rob Seia, his club’s only representative, to win the tournament outlasting Dunsborough’s Martin Mulley.

There were four shots in the preliminary round for each contestant with Franken and Maras alternating on each attempt. Four players, Geoff Holt, Willie Hind, Seia and Mulley qualified for the sudden-death decider after scoring from their four initial attempts.

There were many well taken penalties, but Franken and Maras at times demonstrated why they had reached the pinnacle of their careers. For Franken it was a marathon journey to reach Dunsborough. As Football Federation Australia’s goalkeeping coach, Franken’s road trip started in Taipei a few weeks ago.

He was traveling with the Olyroos in their quest to qualify for the Beijing Olympics of 2008. Following his stay in Taipei it was then on to Hong Kong, Bahrain and finally Iran where they produce a meritorious 0-0 draw. He then flew back to Australia Saturday morning flying immediately to Sydney to meet with Australian Federation officials before catching the red-eye special to Perth to drive down to Dunsborough staying at the Broadwater Resort. “I have a few days rest and then I have to meet with the team in China and then move to Saudi Arabia,” said Franken.

Franken said that he had spent almost 250 days away from home in the past year as the goalkeeping coach for the Socceroos, the Olyroos, the national under 16 team and the women’s side the Matildas. “The penalty shootout was such a success that we will run it again next year.” club president Tony Plumb. “Through Anthony and Tommy we have access to many high profile players both here and in the East and we will develop plans how best to use them as we did last weekend”.