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Australian First Nations
Nickname(s)Mariya
AssociationAustralian First Nations Mariya
Head coachJade North
First international
 NZ Māori 3–2 Mariya 
(Papakura, New Zealand; 20 January 2018)
Biggest win
Australia South Coast Police Force 1–8 Mariya
(Wollongong, Australia; unknown date 2019)
Biggest defeat
African Union Africa Nations FA 6–2 Mariya
(Wollongong, Australia; unknown date 2019)

The Australian First Nations Mariya, also known as Mariya (meaning 'Emu' in the Dhurga language),[1] are an international association football team that represents the first nations peoples of Australia. They were members of CONIFA from 2018 but left at an unspecified point.[2][3]

History

Mariya made their debut on 20 January 2018[4] against NZ Māori, losing 3–2 in a 'Clash of the Cultures' match at McLennan Park, Papakura.[5] The following year they competed again at the 'Clash of the Cultures', this time held in Wollongong, where they beat the South Coast Police Force 8–1 and an African Nations FA team 6–2 but fell to defeat against semi-pro team Wollongong Wolves 2–0.[6] The senior men's NZ Māori team did not compete.[7] On 18 January 2020, at the third iteration of 'Clash of the Cultures', Mariya drew 1–1 with NZ Māori after a 90th-minute equaliser following a Mariya goal in the 73rd minute.[8] Mariya would have competed at the 2020 CONIFA World Football Cup in Skopje, North Macedonia had it not been cancelled for COVID-19 reasons.[9] They are coached by Jade North, the first indigenous Australian to captain the Socceroos.[1]

External links

References

  1. ^ a b "Australian Indigenous talent set to shine at World Cup". FTBL. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. ^ Bjerkevoll, Ola. "Meet Mariya – CONIFA's newest member". CONIFA. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Members". CONIFA. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Football match a trans-Tasman meeting of cultures". RNZ. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  5. ^ "History made in Clash of the Cultures". www.nzfootball.co.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  6. ^ Ward, Courtney (12 February 2019). "Mariya excel at historic Clash of Cultures". South Coast Register. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  7. ^ stephtrowill (17 January 2019). "Mauri, Toki Toa set for Mariya Challenges". Aotearoa Football Charitable Trust. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  8. ^ NZ, Maori Football (20 January 2020). "Third edition of COTC a huge success". Aotearoa Football Charitable Trust. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  9. ^ Stevenson, Dominic (27 January 2020). "CONIFA Sportsbet.io World Football Cup 2020: the groups are announced!". CONIFA. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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