Football fever will take over ADB Stadium at John Ilhan Memorial Reserve, Broadmeadows Valley Park today with the playing of the Timor Cup final, bringing to an end two weeks of international competition.
The Cup's successful return after a 10-year hiatus has seen clubs from Australia, Timor-Leste, New Zealand and the UK hit the pitch at Greenvale's sporting grounds in front of fans, friends and dignitaries.
The revamped competition, which first began following Timor-Leste's independence in 2002, is a chance for East Timorese communities across Australia to celebrate their culture and ongoing connection to Timor-Leste.
"Hume has a proud and long enduring friendship with the East Timorese Government and people" says Hume Mayor Naim Kurt. "Through our 20-year friendship with Aileu , our community has raised thousands for development projects in East Timor, fostering a community-to-community friendship that goes beyond typical international donor relationships"
Hume has a large East Timorese community and events like this play a critical role in strengthening cultural and social ties between the two nations. In October 2023, Hume and Merri-bek Councillors Kurt, Haweil and Riley visited East Timor and met with Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao as part of Hume and Merri-bek's Friends of Aileu program.
"We had an opportunity to meet with Xanana and discuss our 20-year relationship and the strong ties that bind our two countries. The Prime Minister thanked us for our long running relationship and the support that Hume Council and community has provided over many years".
Together with Sydney and Darwin, Melbourne has welcomed a substantial portion of Australia's East-Timorese community as refugees with many now living in the City of Hume.
In recognition of the strong diaspora community, Hume City Council provided hosting club Greenvale United a $18,750 Events Grant ahead of the tournament, plus up to $6,250 in playing services.
The tournament is backed by the 'Friends of Alieu' partnership between Hume and Merri-bek City Councils, which has been supporting community development projects in the Timor-Leste municipality of Aileu since 2001.
It's hoped that with Hume City's successful hosting of the 2023-24 Timor Cup, the event will become a fixture in future years, hosted in various Australian cities and in Timor-Leste.
"East Timor is Australia's newest democratic neighbour and I believe that initiatives such as our 'Friends of Alieu' partnership reinforce, not only our community-community relationship, but the strong historical ties between our two countries".
Finals at John Ilhan Reserve take place at 4pm and 7pm and will be followed by a presentation night at Town Hall Broadmeadows on Saturday 13 January.
