Bilingual Soccer World Cup

Last Friday, 7 November, Newlands Primary School proudly hosted the first ever Bilingual Football (Soccer) World Cup at the Darebin International Sports Centre. It was a truly historic and joyful day that brought together nine bilingual schools from across Victoria, each representing their community language and culture through the universal language of football.

The schools participating were:

• Lalor North Primary School – Macedonian/Greek
• Camberwell Primary School – French
• Abbotsford Primary School – Chinese
• Richmond West Primary School – Chinese
• Bayswater South Primary School – German
• Brunswick South Primary School – Italian
• Footscray Primary School – Italian
• Huntingdale Primary School – Japanese
• Newlands Primary School – Spanish

The atmosphere was electric as students, staff and families came together to celebrate diversity, bilingualism and friendship. The day was filled with colour, excitement and pride, as chants in many languages echoed across the venue.

Our Newlands boys and girls teams gave their very best on the day, starting with an energetic opening ceremony chant that impressed everyone. Their teamwork, sportsmanship and passion were evident in every game. 

A special thank you goes to our dedicated and amazing coaches — Kaya and Cat for the girls team, and Emre and Enmanuel for the boys team — for their time, encouragement and leadership.

Although both Newlands teams were knocked out in the quarterfinals, their effort was outstanding. One of the most memorable moments of the day came from the girls team’s dramatic penalty shootout. Every kick carried intensity, courage and emotion. The girls showed incredible determination and bravery, never giving up until the very last moment.

Off the field, our students shone just as brightly, showing kindness, care and respect towards players from all schools — a true reflection of the values we promote at Newlands.

A huge thank you to all the staff and parents who made this day possible. From refereeing and scoring, to managing the score table, providing first aid, organising equipment and supervising students — your help was invaluable. This event could not have happened without your support.

We would also like to thank Simon from Melbourne Victory for collaborating in the event and providing fantastic prizes for the winning teams, and Andrés from the Spanish Embassy for generously supplying the Spanish uniforms worn on the day. Your contributions made the event even more special.

A big thank you as well to Nathan Lambert MP and Anthony Cianflone MP for taking the time to come and support our teams and the event. Your presence was greatly appreciated by all schools and students.

Finally, congratulations to Lalor North Primary School, winners of the boys’ tournament, and Richmond West Primary School, winners of the girls’ tournament.

It was a day filled with smiles, cheers, and pride — a reminder of the power of sport to bring communities together. We can’t wait for next year’s Bilingual Soccer World Cup!

Yours faithfully, 

Raúl Berral

Health and PE Teacher