Popular Robbie De Rosa will headline the new FFSA Bedford Community League beginning this Sunday

Adelaide United NPL midfielder Ryan Yates is the coach of the new Bedford Community League an initiative for people with disabilities aged six to 65.

• Verbeek named Reds coach
• Matlidas banking on experience
• Goodwin on Roos’ shortlist

Hugely popular Robbie De Rosa isn’t allowing a disability to take away the thing he loves mostly in life — playing soccer.

De Rosa, 29, a wealth of information on just about everything to do with SA’s soccer leagues suffers from a rare syndrome which has affected about 60 people worldwide.

Now De Rosa will get his chance to make his debut in a new inclusive competition, Football Federation SA’s Bedford Community League at Angle Park on Sunday.

“I’m excited to be back out there playing football after the hip complaints I’ve had,’’ De Rosa said.

“It’s been difficult to remain fit due to my condition.”

The One Culture Football collaboration between Bedford and FFSA will oversee a seven-a-side tournament over the next nine weeks for those with disabilities aged six to 65.

Robbie De Rosa has a rare bone condition which affects about 60 people in the world. Robbie and his mum Pina Silvestri. Picture Campbell Brodie.

A confessed Melbourne Victory A-League fan, De Rosa will be wearing Adelaide United’s replica kit which was donated to One Culture Football.

“To wear the red strip will be a bit weird,’’ De Rosa said.
However De Rosa has a great mentor despite not being keen on the kit.

Adelaide United NPL midfielder Ryan Yates is coach of De Rosa’s One Culture Football team.
“I’ve been working with One Culture Football for a couple of months now, working with
younger kids with disabilities giving them a chance to play the game and learn things,’’ Yates said.

“To see them with smiles on their faces really motivated me to join the fun.”
Helping Yates and De Rosa to oversee One Culture Football is Adelaide United’s NPL assistant coach Joshua Smith.

 He was able to encourage Yates to coach and bring De Rosa into the team.

 Smith believes other state sides will mirror the debut tournament.
“It’s important that people get the opportunity to play football, regardless if they have a
disability or not,’’ Smith said.

“We’d love to try and get more of the state’s clubs involved after this inaugural season so the players can be branded and feel more apart of the set-up in South Australia.”