The idea of 'Aussie Supporteroos' came to Petr Kuzmin, a Melbourne-based software manager, after participating in a friendly match between fans of New Zealand and Russia during the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017 in Russia, a prelude to the football world cup that followed the next year.
Encouraged by the experience, he decided to organise something similar if Australia qualified for the 2018 World Cup scheduled in Russia.
Once the Soccerros secured their spot, Mr Kuzmin created a Facebook event inviting Australian fans who had plans to travel to Russia to support the national team, to come together for a friendly tournament.
The Aussie Supporteroos played their first match against the French supporters ahead of the Socceroos vs France match in Kazan in 2018. Credit: Supplied by Petr Kuzmin
Originally from Russia, Mr Kuzmin had friends there who helped him with organising the first game which took place in Kazan, Russia’s fifth-largest city, just before the Australia-France match.
It was an unforgettable experience, not only because of the game itself.Petr Kuzmin
“The local authorities freaked out. They were afraid that there might be some problem or fight between the fans, so the stadium was generally cordoned off by the police.
“Probably 100-200 policemen were deputed there,” he tells SBS Russian.
Strangers to each other before this game, all thanks to the unifying power of football, the fans-turned-players felt like close friends after the match.
“I was interrogated by a police colonel, who then handed me over to two FSB agents, who in turn, asked me all kinds of questions,” Mr Kuzmin recalls.
However, he says, “it was worth it” as the game after was a big success with 25 Australians playing and all the big Russian media houses covering the event.
The Australian team’s victory over the French, the ‘Irrésistibles Français’, only added to the intimacy and positive emotions.
The Supporteroos at the Fan World Cup held in St. Petersburg in 2018. Credit: Supplied by Petr Kuzmin.
That was when the name ‘Supporteroos’ was coined.
“I can’t take credit for it,” says Mr Kuzmin.
“The name was offered by one of the fans while we were having dinner together after that first game,” he adds.
The initiative quickly gained traction, evolving into a mini tournament with four teams in Mr Kuzmin’s hometown, Samara, followed by participation in the Fans’ World Cup in St. Petersburg.
The culmination of the tournament saw matches at the Red Square in Moscow which Mr Kuzmin describes as an “absolutely unforgettable experience”.
Copa90 legends Eli Mengem and David Vujanic joined our team and we were featured in the SBS World Cup coverage that day.
The 2019 Women’s World Cup in France presented the Aussie Supporteroos with another opportunity to come together and play against fans from other countries.
The opening match took place in Valenciennes.
Five new female players joined the Aussie Supporteroos as well as a family of four which included boys as young as five and eight years of age.
Supporteroos vs Nigeria at Brisbane on July 27. Credit: © Kin-Wai YUEN (Instagram: @bigpanda_kin / iris.shoot.by.kin)
Mr Kuzmin says that he always had a strong emotional connection with both Russia and Australia and during the 2018 World Cup he equally supported both teams.
He has been very excited about the 2023 Women’s World Cup currently underway in Australia and New Zealand.
He had hoped the Russian team would have been able to qualify for it.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions that followed, quashed that dream.
“Of course, I felt sad that the Russian team couldn’t participate, and I feel sorry for all the athletes because it’s their careers and their life,” Mr Kuzmin says.
“I agree with the sanctions because unfortunately, we see how sport has been used as a propaganda tool by the Russian or other autocratic regimes,” he adds emphatically.
Countries that start aggressive wars shouldn’t be allowed to participate in international events such as the Olympics or football cups at the same time.
Sense of community over winning
During the ongoing Women’s World Cup, the Supporteroos have already played friendly matches with fans in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The main tournament, the ‘World Fans Championship’ with 12 teams, is scheduled to take place in Sydney on August 19, just a day before the World Cup final.
Supporteroos vs Irish Fans at Sydney on July 19. Credit: © Kin-Wai YUEN (Instagram: @bigpanda_kin / iris.shoot.by.kin)
“We don’t have any selection process, everyone is welcome to join,” adds Mr Kuzmin who now plays with his 12-year-old daughter.
“While I’m very competitive by nature and always want to win, I remember that the whole project is not about winning or losing, it’s about positive emotions, a sense of community and new friends.
“For example, in a recent game with the Canadians, we had an elderly couple, maybe in their 70s,” says Mr Kuzmin.
“Both played with us and passed the ball a couple of times. Honestly, it gives me more pleasure to watch them or to see a teenager score a goal than do it myself,” he adds.
