Wanderland is set to come to life as the Wanderers open their season at CommBank Stadium this Sunday with Western Sydney Afro-swing artists, Big Skeez and Gold Fang, performing at half-time.
Wanderers Round 1 match against Perth Glory, kicking off at 3:00pm, will commence with an Indigenous smoking ceremony to cleanse and prepare the venue for the match and season ahead.
As part of the fabric of the Western Sydney community, the Wanderers continue to embrace their multicultural region with a number of activities throughout the season that will incorporate the rich tapestry of the community, from the grassroots players to the diverse cultures the club represents.
At half-time, the Wanderers will host an opening ceremony for the NSW African Cup including a performance by Big Skeez, a local artist who features in the Wanderers 22/23 season kit launch.
The local Afro-swing performer and Wanderers member, will perform his song ‘Up’, and along with Gold Fang will perform their track, ‘Where Yuh From’.
The performance will also feature a live African drumming group and celebration of over 500 African footballers from Western Sydney who will compete in the cup from Saturday 15 October at Wanderers Football Park.
Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson said that reconnecting with the Western Sydney community has been a priority for the club.
“The last two and a half years of COVID has made it impossible to be present in and engage with the community,” said Hudson.
“We’re now making up for lost time and in the last two months alone, we have visited 23 schools, completed 35 player appearances, attended 30 community events and engaged with over 5,000 kids in the Western Sydney region.
“This work will only continue from here, our community engagement efforts will allow our club to continue to be part of the social fabric of the region that beats loudly on the national and international stage.”
NSW African Cup President Bernard Muchemwa said he was pleased to be involved in the Wanderers season opener before the African Cup kicks off next weekend.
“We are pleased to announce the 2022 African Cup NSW Opening Ceremony sponsored by Western Sydney Wanderers FC at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 9 October 2022,” said Mr Muchemwa.
“The African Cup NSW is a celebration of African heritage, rich diverse culture , unity and oneness for the 54 Nations in Australia. We cordially invite you all to come and celebrate with us.”
Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory
Sunday 9 October 2022, 3:00pm
CommBank Stadium
Get your tickets here
