Socceroos legend John Kosmina has urged SA politicians to stop paying lip service to world game

Football deserves better than lip service from politicians on a bandwagon, Socceroos legend John Kosmina says, after revelations SA may not qualify to host Women’s World Cup matches.

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Socceroos legend John Kosmina has urged South Australian politicians to start taking the world game seriously after it was revealed Hindmarsh Stadium could struggle to attract 2023 Women’s World Cup games.

The inaugural coach of Adelaide United, who played for Australia on 60 occasions, has urged SA not to squander the opportunity the football tournament could bring.

Although conceding it would be too late to build his preferred option – a rectangular stadium beside Adelaide Oval – Kosmina said it was time for the world game to be better recognised.

“Football has always had politicians that have jumped on the bandwagon when there’s a bandwagon to jump on – but they play lip service to it,” Kosmina told the Sunday Mail.

“The thing is the game is always fought against the other codes, and it’s probably always fought against politics as well because politicians go where the votes are.

“I think the football fraternity needs to come together as a bloc and vote people out that don’t support the game.”

The State Government will spend $3.3 million upgrading Hindmarsh Stadium in a bid to host 2023 Women’s World Cup soccer matches.

But The Advertiser revealed Hindmarsh Stadium has its work cut out to convince FIFA that the stadium is a worthy venue for matches.

The stadium rated as the worst of the eight Australian venues in FFA’s joint bid book to FIFA.

Over the years a number of significant overhauls have been touted for Hindmarsh Stadium including a roof option.

“If they are happy to invest in Hindmarsh and the money is right, and they do it properly not just a lick of paint, then I am happy for that because that ground has got so much history,” Kosmina said.

But he fears interest in the game will only be short lived.

“South Australians need to support the game for what it is – it is the biggest and most popular sport in the world by far,” he said.

“It is the biggest game in Australia by far in terms of participation and registrations.

“It is like Groundhog Day the Women’s World Cup will come and go and the circle starts again.

“They need to grow it and keep growing it because it’s a game that everyone can play.”

He said the situation had been the same for over a decade.

Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister Corey Wingard said on Friday SA proposed hosting four group games and a knockout clash with temporary stands to bring capacity closer to FIFA expectations.

“We’re right in the middle of this and we’ll be pushing for the best possible outcomes for SA,” he said.

“In the 2019 (France FIFA women’s) World Cup the average crowd was 22,000 so that made this stadium the ideal boutique stadium.

“We know we can fill in the seats and get close to 20,000.”

Mr Wingard said a new stadium had been considered to replace Hindmarsh Stadium but cost was a factor.