Parents had to decide which one of them was the bigger football fan in the household, due to new rules that limit spectators to one parent per family for junior sporting competitions.
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It was an easy decision for Falah Kheder, who said he and son Sultan were both huge football fans back in their home country of Iraq.
The family moved to Wagga in January this year, but were not able to play football up until now due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Mr Kheder said they had both been really looking forward to joining a local football team and getting involved in Wagga's sporting community.
"We make many, many friends in Wagga Wagga," Mr Kheder said.
"I can't play because of my knee, but I want my son to play, to be a big player."
Sultan has joined the Lake Albert Soccer Club, and his father came in the club's colours to cheer on his son and barrack for the team.
In other news
Nine-year-old Coen Whitney said he was glad to be back with the Wagga Crows after two months of nothing but backyard football.
Coen said he especially enjoyed being back with his teammates, saying that the months of lockdown had not been fun.
His dad Eric Whitney was the parent who got to come along for the match.
"It's a relief to come out. Mum's at home doing housework and dad's at the football with his son," Mr Whitney said.
"[During lockdown] we've been watching YouTube, playing on the computer, kicking the ball around the backyard. We've managed okay."
Football Wagga president Tony Dobbin said it had been "extremely difficult" to organise the event, since the government gave them less than two day's notice of the new regulations.
However Mr Dobbin said the weekend ran smoothly thanks to some dedicated parents.
"It's taken a lot, so I've got to thank all the volunteers," Mr Dobbin said.
"Whilst the crowd here is very, very much down on previous years due to the restrictions, but it's kicked off, and as you can see from the boys and girls out there, they're having a great time."
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
