World Cup fever hits Hampton

By Sarah Schwager
SOCCER fever has struck Hampton Park with children soaking up the World Cup atmosphere.
Last week marked the end of a six-week soccer clinic for local school children in the lead-up to the major soccer event in Germany, which will see Australia compete for the first time in 32 years.
Children from schools including Hampton Park, Coral Park, River Gum and St Kevin’s Primary Schools took part in the clinic organised by Football Federation Australia.
The clinic aimed to give children who did not belong to a soccer club an opportunity to play, and it provided equipment, including a soccer ball, goal-post markers and a sports bag.
Last week, players from Melbourne Victory came out to give the kids some coaching, much to the children’s delight.
Hampton Park Primary School principal Christine Wakeling said the clinic, which was hosted at the school’s grounds, had been a great opportunity for kids to get active and become involved.
Ms Wakeling said it was also great to see so many girls show interest in the sport. It was double fever for 10 Hampton Park Primary School students who took part in a demonstration clinic on ground at the MCG before the Australia versus Greece friendly match recently.
“It was a big thrill for those kids,” Ms Wakeling said. “The children are all very excited about the World Cup and very tuned into what’s happening.”
Ms Wakeling said the Hampton Park club extended an invitation to all the kids to go along to their training sessions if they wanted to join up.