Marco Caputo talks Canberra A-League

Will we see an A-League team in Canberra?



Former Wallaby and Brumbies star Marco Caputo would like to see one.


“I’d love to see an A-League team in Canberra. But I don’t want to see it fall over in a few years.



History shows that there is only room for one professional team in Canberra. The Raiders obviously, and the Brumbies are a part-time team.”


“If there was corporate support in town, I’ve no doubt there is the community support, it could work. You’ve only got to come down to Dickson oval on a Saturday to see a thousand kids playing football. This is happening across Canberra. There is certainly the potential here for a side.”



Can Canberra ever support an A-League side?



Is Marco right? Can Canberra only support one full-time playing side?

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Marco Caputo: Why kids should start with football

Former Wallaby and Brumbies star Marco Caputo says, "Football is a great game to teach children their bio mechanical skills."

He should know. He played many sports, including football in his junior career before excelling at Rugby. And didn't he just. He played for the Brumbies before heading to England and France for more club Rugby. The Canberran did well!

Marco and I chatted while his son Joe kicked around us, and his daughter Sophia was playing out a 0-0 draw.

Captuo has two children, Sophia and Joseph. Both play at Majura Soccer club.

“Sure I’d love them to be a Matilda or Socceroo, but really as long as they are out playing with other kids having fun, that’s what important. People ask me if I want them to follow me into Rugby but I don’t mind, as long they are happy.”

“Football is a great way for any kid to start, no matter what sport you end up playing. It’s such a good game to get their bio mechanical skills developed. I think it’s important for kids to learn the discipline of turning up and training, and learning to work together.”

“Most of the big stars in Rugby like Johnny Wilkinson (England), and Joe Roff(former Brumby) were good footballers.”

Johnny Wilkinson: Started life as a footballer, and didn't his football skills pay off for the England Rugby team when he booted them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Caputo continued, “The Wallaby players always looked to the English Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. We were always trying to learn to get an edge from other top sportsmen.”

“The changes in Australian football over the last few years have been great. Little blokes, like my Joey, can now identify with a career path in football. After watching the Socceroos at the last World Cup they can identify with the Aussies playing in the top leagues in Europe. Tim Cahill at Everton, Mark Viduka now at Newcastle.

Aussie kids now see if they put their head down they could be one of these guys. It’s done such good things for the profile of the game and John O’Neill has had a lot to do with that. “

“Last night I was looking on YouTube at Ronaldinho and all his skills. The kids want to do the tricks and play at these huge stadiums. It’s great.”

And it was great to hear a champion of another code talking up football.

If sports are to succeed in Canberra we need more fans supporting more teams.

You can see the whole Marco Caputo interview at www.capitalfootball.com.au

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Former Wallaby Marco Caputo meets Zinedine Zidane

The day I met Zidane

Marco Caputo, former Wallaby and Brumbies star.

Football in the Capital caught up with Marco Caputo at Dickson Oval as he was watching his children play football. Well, he was until I interrupted him! And then we started talking football and before you know it, it was half-time in his daughters game and we missed the whole thing.

Marco tells of the day he met the one of the World's top footballers, Zinedine Zidane. During the week we'll hear Marco's thoughts on his love of Italian football, the game in Australia, and his desire to see a Canberra A-League side

Marco takes up the story:

“I was playing golf one day with Olivier Magne, French International Rugby Star in France. We were at a golf club owned by Evian water. For six months of the year you couldn’t play as the course was under snow. There was a helicopter buzzing around. In fact it had been so close we could hardly concentrate on the golf. Anyway we head into have lunch when the helicopter lands."

"A massive Polynesian guy gets out all wired up and there is a whole entourage in tow. TV cameras the lot. "

“I’m thinking this guy must be important if he’s got security and the rest.”

"Anyway this guy gets out of the helicopter and comes in to the restaurant and walks towards us. "

"Olivier gets up and says, “I’ve got a mate here, do you mind if he joins us as he doesn’t know anyone here?”

“Sure,” I say. I’m looking at this guy walking towards us, thinking I recognize him.

“It was Zinedine Zidane. He’s a big Rugby fan and wanted to talk Rugby, but I just wanted to talk football.”

"He’d just moved from Juventus to Real Madrid and he talks Italian obviously so I was able to chat with him."

“We discussed who the best French player was ever. He thought Platini, I thought Cantona. I loved his strut, the way he commanded the stage.”

“It was great. Here I am having this discussion about sport with Zidane. I couldn’t believe it. And then his mobile rings. "

“Look guys he says I’m sorry but I have to go. Zidane says it’s Scolari, his coach at Real Madrid. I’m wanted back at training in one hour; we have a big champion’s league game coming up.”

“Zidane had been shooting an advert for Evian and had played for France the night before. He gets on the phone, rings the helicopter pilot. In a few minutes the helicopter comes again, picks Zidane up and he’s gone!”

“ It was amazing. He was like a rock star just flying in, but he was also very down to earth. It was great to meet him.”

“It’s hard to explain how these top player live, if you haven’t seen it.”

Great story Marco. We'll have more from Marco during the week.

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