Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Steven Ugarkovic joined students and the local community at Wanderers Fives for Catholic Mission’s Socktober event, supporting an initiative that uses football to help young people build awareness and empathy for children around the world.
Socktober is held during Mission Month and brings communities together to support children in need globally, with football playing a central role through the program’s unique sockball.
Made from recycled materials, the sockball represents the resourcefulness and resilience of children in communities around the world who continue to find joy through sport despite the challenges they face.
Students taking part in the event had the opportunity to create and play with sockballs before competing in a football tournament at Wanderers Fives, bringing the message of the program to life through the game.
Ugarkovic was on hand to meet participants and support the event, before speaking with 10 News Sydney about the Wanderers’ preparations for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season.
With a number of new faces joining the squad and a fresh start under Head Coach Ufuk Talay, Ugarkovic said pre-season had provided an important opportunity for the group to come together.
“We’ve had a little trip away to get to know each other, there’s a lot of new boys and things like that,” Ugarkovic told 10 News Sydney.
“A big restart and a big refresh. Training has been tough, which it should be.”
With the likes of Nicolas Milanovic returning to Western Sydney and competition continuing to build across the squad, Ugarkovic said responsibility in the final third would need to be shared across the team.
“It falls on everyone, not just one or two players. Not just the strikers, everyone has to pitch in,” he said.
“I think it’s a key point being a bit more ruthless in front of goal, as we are going to create chances and we just have to take them.”
The appearance continued the Wanderers’ connection with the Western Sydney community, with Wanderers Fives providing the backdrop for a day combining football, education and a cause extending well beyond the pitch.
