5 MINUTES WITH INTERVIEW 5 MINUTES WITH BEN ROCHE: PARAROOS VICE-CAPTAIN BEN ROCHE, VICE-CAPTAIN FOR THE PARAROOS TOOK TIME OUT FROM AN ALL ABILITIES GALA DAY IN THORNBURY, MELBOURNE TO GIVE SPORT HEALTH AN INSIGHT INTO HIS SPORTING CAREER. Was sort of by coincidence; I heard depending on the schedule, and about it, got in touch, was invited that’s on top of work, travel and in and I’ve been involved ever since. on top of everything else. When we promote the game, there is the What did your journey to the social, community side of being in Pararoos involve? the Pararoos, but we want to be elite athletes. We record our trainings, When I started, there wasn’t a huge and use the same apps, software pathway for development. So I went and everything like the Socceroos straight to being involved with the do. It does take a huge commitment national team – just to be in that and that’s the way we want it to be. environment, then I had to go home It would be nice if there was a bit away from that and develop my more support, but that’s the reality skills. And still, to this day, we all have of trying to grow disability sport. to work really hard as individuals so that we’re prepared when we are With obvious task of having with the team. Now it’s a lot easier. to travel internationally for There’s state programs, there’s tournaments, are you able to opportunities like all-abilities days to be identified and meet likeminded receive any sort of funding or athletes. But like any other athlete, brand sponsorship? you work really hard: it doesn’t come Fortunately, the FFA covers easy. We’re not paid athletes, so it a small portion of our travel and comes at a huge sacrifice and you accommodation. However, we How did you get involved with do it for the sake of representing fundraise each year and the your country and I love the role- Australian Sports Foundation allows soccer? model aspect of it. Seeing kids come through with disabilities people to make a tax deductable I started soccer when I was six donation. However, we are looking at years old. My parents got me into and seeing how much it means a more sustainable model. In June it and there were a few other kids to them; it’s worth it. this year, we’ll be releasing a getting involved. It was also a bit documentary which we will premiere of an easier transition into sport Although you are not professional, in Sydney, with the hopes of gaining than AFL or anything like that, what are your training demands long-term support and building more and I fell in love with it pretty like? How does it compare to what of a name for us. In 2016, as a team, quickly. I struggled in areas and the Socceroos have to do? we found out we had nothing, and went through stages where we had 12 weeks to get to a I’d have to swap clubs because We try to be as professional as tournament. We raised $150,000 I wasn’t really being given a fair possible, but we all need to work as as a team to get there. Because go. And then I got involved in well and have our personal lives, so if we didn’t, we wouldn’t have gotten disability football and the it’s a really big juggle. So, for me, results in Denmark, to then qualify Paralympic team when I was 12. I still train 6-9 times a week- for Argentina last year, which 4 VOLUME 36 • JUNE ISSUE 2018