Sport
27 October, 2025
Spirit of friendship, football flows
THE third annual Fantin Cup was held in Dimbulah over the weekend, drawing a huge crowd and celebrating the life and legacy of Bruno Fantin, one of the founding members of the Dimbulah Football Club.
What began as a tribute to a much-loved community figure has grown into a major highlight on the local sporting calendar. The Fantin Cup unites players, families, and supporters from Dimbulah and Mareeba, honouring the close bond between the two towns through a day of football, friendship, and friendly rivalry.
This year’s event featured matches across all divisions – Under 45s, Over 45s (Legends), Ladies, and junior age groups Under 8/9 and Under 10/11. For the first time, the introduction of the Ladies match added even more excitement and community spirit to the day.
Almost 2,000 spectators lined the sidelines to enjoy a thrilling day of competition. In the Under 45s, Mareeba claimed victory with a convincing 4-1 win, while the Ladies’ team also impressed, defeating Dimbulah 5-1 in their inaugural clash.
Among the juniors, Mareeba’s Under 8/9 team proved too strong, taking out their division, while Dimbulah struck back in the Under 10/11 match with an impressive win in front of their home crowd.
The Legends match provided one of the day’s most memorable moments, finishing 2-2 at full time before Mareeba edged out Dimbulah 4-3 in a penalty shootout, thrilling the crowd.
Organisers Sandro Soncin and Eddie Balzarolo were ecstatic over the turnout and thanked the community for their continued support of the event.
As the sun set, both towns came together to celebrate well into the night, a fitting tribute to Bruno Fantin and the enduring spirit of sportsmanship he inspired.
