Sport
9 November, 2026
Brothers unite for football milestone
TWO sets of three brothers added a special family connection to the recent Fantin Cup, as Dimbulah and Mareeba celebrated a combined 150 years of football.
David, Karl and Wayne Srhoj represented Mareeba, while Andre, Fabrizio and Sandro Soncin lined up for Dimbulah at Bruno’s Park, bringing family pride to the friendly rivalry between the neighbouring clubs.
The occasion carried significance, with Dimbulah marking its 70th anniversary and Mareeba United celebrating 80 years in the sport. Having three brothers on each side provided a fitting reflection of the family connections that have helped sustain both clubs across generations.
For the Srhoj and Soncin families, the opportunity to take the field together added another shared experience to their football stories, while contributing to an occasion celebrating the communities behind the game. Although they wore opposing colours, all six were part of the same celebration of local football and its lasting place in community life.
Their participation highlighted the importance of keeping those connections alive, giving former teammates and opponents an opportunity to come together through sport. The Fantin Cup provides a setting where competition sits alongside friendship, and where families can share in the histories their clubs continue to build.
Seeing two sets of brothers involved also offers younger generations an example of football’s enduring appeal and the relationships that can grow around it. As Mareeba and Dimbulah recognised their respective milestones, the brothers’ presence gave that history a human face: families returning to the field, representing their communities and keeping local traditions alive.
