The 2015 AFL Rio Tinto Footy Means Business program is holding its first training camp in Perth next week, February 16 -21, led by coaches Aaron Davey and Eddie Sansbury with Mackay City Hawks player Nabako Stow who will be under their guidance over the week long camp.
Each year the Footy Means Business program provides 50 Indigenous men, aged 18 to 24-year-old, with exposure to elite AFL programs and training, along with networking opportunities in corporate environments over two training camps.
The one-week camp in Perth will coincide with the AFL Players' Association Indigenous camp which will take place in Perth from February 15 to 19.
Footy Means Business participants will take part in a range of cultural and educational activities with the AFL Indigenous players, in the lead up to the Team Davey v Team Salisbury curtain-raiser and the West Coast Eagles v AFL Indigenous All Stars match at Medibank Stadium, Leederville on February 20.
Fremantle defender Michael Johnson will also mentor the Footy Means Business squad during the camp and will perform a coaching role during the curtain-raiser.
Stow one of ten Queenslanders selected in the squad of fifty is excited by the opportunity ahead but said it came out of no-where really.
"I moved back to Mackay from Canberra this year to finish off my apprenticeship, so footy wasn't really on the radar," Stow told Mackay.aflq.com.au.
"Now (footy), it really is on the radar and I am excited to get over to Perth."
After 95 career games, with majority with the Mackay City Hawks including dual senior premierships and stints with the Gold Coast SUNS, Mt Gravatt and Belconnen in the NEAFL, Stow said this is one of his career highlights.
"I don't know what to say really, it is a great opportunity for me to learn from the best and I just want to put my best foot forward," an excited Nabako said.
AFL Queensland Regional Manager for Mackay, Jeff Neumann said Stow is a deserving selection in the program.
"Nabako is an outstanding footballer and individual.
"Everyone was selected based on their football ability, engagement with the community and their potential to serve as a role model, Nabako ticks all of that and much more," Neumann added.
The Mackay City Hawks product will have a second Footy Means Business training camp which will be held in Melbourne in May, coinciding with Indigenous Round and culminating in the Rio Tinto Cup which is the curtain-raiser match to the Dreamtime At The G clash at the MCG.
Article from AFL Mackay Website