Sport
16 October, 2025
Iconic names a highlight of Fantin Cup
FOOTBALL in FNQ has always produced some big names, with players going on to make their careers in the sport and providing a great generational and community history.
That is why the Fantin Cup, coming up at Dimbulah on 25 October, attracts many past legends who come to have a game each year.
Two of these iconic names will be making an appearance this year and no doubt will be a highlight of the event.
Former players-turned-coaches, Fab Soncin and Tony Panetta, both epitomise the spirit of football across the region.
Fab has a decorated and distinguished record as both a player and coach.
Born in Italy, he moved to a tobacco farm in Mutchilba with his family when he was three. Like many European immigrants, football became his outlet. It was there that a barefoot Fab began his journey on a rock-hard oval, full of bindis. and barefoot.
His first ball was brown and hard but he would take it to bed, put it under his desk at school – everywhere.
He began to play for Dimbulah at the age of 10, and by 14, he was selected for Queensland for the next four years.
Mareeba State League was up and running at this stage, and at 16, Fab was selected, playing alongside the likes of future Socceroos great, Frank Farina.
At 19, Fab trialled in Italy and was offered a professional contract. Unfortunately, as a dual citizen back then, he would have to serve a compulsory 18 months of military service, so he reluctantly came home.
Eventually, Fab moved to Cairns with his family and went back to playing locally, enjoying success with Cairns Clubs Leichhardt and Stratford.
He transitioned to coaching and became head coach of the Mareeba Bulls during the golden years of the late 90s and early 2000s, where every year brought in either premierships, grand finals or Crad Evans trophies, and elevated the Mareeba Bulls to a football powerhouse in FNQ.
His local success earned him a pedigree, and his ambition took him to Victoria, where he lives with his family, and has coached various NPL levels, state teams, academies, and even had a stint taking a Melbourne Victory W-League team to a grand final.
For Tony Panetta, his young years were a similar story, growing up on the family’s tobacco farm in Biboorha.
However, Tony’s football career started much later in life and by accident, when he was 14.
He had gone to watch a friend play, and he had been left with a quite negative first impression of the game.
But Tony was a natural athlete, and when he gave it a go, he quickly began using his speed to his advantage. Once he mastered the technique, it was not long before he began his football journey with the Mareeba Bulls.
Tony was also selected in the Mareeba State League Squad during the early years and then went on to play for the Mareeba Bulls up until the age of 31, where, unfortunately, a very serious leg injury forced an end to his playing career in his first premiership-winning team year.
His injury had a severe impact both physically and mentally and he stayed away from the game for a number of years.
It wasn’t until Fab Soncin came to Mareeba to coach that Tony was lured back to the game. Fab was able to recruit him to become an assistant coach for the youth team and his passion returned.
This kickstarted Tony’s coaching career, and he quickly moved up the ranks to eventually coach the Men’s premier team, winning the premiership and Crad Evans Trophies.
He now coaches at various levels in Brisbane, where he and his family reside, but his loyalty to his club has never wavered.
He has only ever played for Mareeba and was involved in the committee and supported the club as a sponsor through his business.
He has the honour of being one of the five inductees in the Mareeba Bulls Hall of Fame.
Tony’s football passion runs through his family, with all his kids having played.
In particular, son Nicholas represented Australia at the under-17 World Cup in Chile, creating a sensation by scoring two goals and eventually winning against heavyweights Argentina.
Tony, however, keeps telling his kids, “I would’ve been better than all of you if I started playing sooner”, he said, laughing.
“It’s been an incredible journey.”
Tony and Fab will both be travelling to Dimbulah and stripping up for their former junior clubs on 25 October – providing a great highlight to see them on the pitch once again.
