The Melbourne City Powerchair Football team are heading north to spoil the party at the Powerchair Football 2024 National Club Championships.

Power Soccer is fast becoming one of the most popular sports across the world. Imagine a mix of bumper cars and a super sized soccer ball and that’s what Power Soccer is.

Australian Disability Equipment and Support Company, Push Mobility ensures that every Powerchair Football (Power Soccer) player that comes through the doors is able to score goals with the Power Soccer Chair, The Strikeforce.

Powerchair Football players and Push Mobility clients, Luke David and Shaun Millett came into Push Mobility last week in preparation for crashing the party at the National Championships in Brisbane next week. (Starting Monday, August 26th)

Between 2011 and 2022, the National Club Championships were largely dominated by the might of Queensland and New South Wales, with each decider featuring the fierce rivalry between these two states. Victoria was often seen as the underdog in this battle.

However, in 2023, the tides began to turn as the Melbourne City team made an unexpected and impressive run to the final, only to lose in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. This marked a significant shift in the landscape of Powerchair Football in Australia, building on the momentum Victoria has gathered in recent years.

This near-miss last year has only made Victoria and the Melbourne City team stronger and hungrier, with the squad determined to finally break the stronghold of Queensland and New South Wales at the 2024 Club Championships.

Melbourne City’s Luke David described 2023’s National Club Championships as a “Tough pill to swallow, but it only fueled our determination to reset and improve.”

“The entire team, from players to support staff, has been working tirelessly to ensure that this year we are as prepared as we can be. We go in really confident but regardless of the outcome, we go in knowing we’ve done everything we can to bring back the trophy. We look forward to the challenge!”

Luke and the team can already visualise the power wheelchairs whizzing around the court and already hear the thump of the huge soccer ball, and this certainly wets the appetite of those who experienced the heartbreak of last year's penalty shootout.

On a recent visit to Push Mobility, Luke described the competition as “More than just a sport for us. I have been involved in the sport since 2011 when it was introduced in Australia. Each season brings a new level of excitement and challenge. What keeps us coming back is the camaraderie, the competition, and the opportunities that come from it.”

Shaun Millett, a teammate of Luke’s also visited Push and said “When I was introduced to power soccer through an event dedicated to showcasing recreation opportunities for those with a disability and despite never even considering the option of sports after the onset of my disability I decided to at least give it try before dismissing it. I regard that as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made as from that point on it's been one of the most rewarding things in my life. Every season is a new challenge and a new opportunity to improve upon all the mistakes I made the previous season. I love being able to constantly improve upon my skills season after season.”

The Victorians are certainly going to show an aggressive and slick style of play to increase the chances of winning the 2024 National Club Championships. Luke highlighted his predictions of teammate, Rebecca Evans tournament.

"Rebecca Evans is again one of the standout players for us this year. Her agility, sharp instincts and creativity on the court make her an integral part of our system and structure. Alongside our other key players, we're bringing an aggressive and coordinated style of play that we believe will give us a good opportunity to have success this year."

The National Club Championships start on August 26th and conclude on August 31st 2024. You can attend each game at Nissan Arena, Nathan, Queensland.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in Power Soccer or Powerchair Sports in general, you can contact Luke David via luke@supportyourway.com.au