A Victorian country sports club has decided to leave its South Australian-based competition and decades of playing history behind due to uncertainty around state border restrictions.

The move comes just days before South Australia’s border closure with Victoria ends on Tuesday.

The regional town of Kaniva, 25 kilometres east of the South Australian-Victorian border, is to join the Horsham District Football Netball League.

Kaniva Leeor United Football Club President Jason Gordon said the decision to change competitions had emerged over a difficult six months.

“[We] had an extraordinary special meeting [this week], about the future of our club and where our members thought the best place, for the most chance to play in 2021 was for us,” Mr Gordon said.

“And [it] was decided that the Horsham District Football Netball League was the place that we could be a standalone club and not have to deal with the border issues that have been taking place.”

Kaniva is about 25 kilometres from the South Australian border.(Supplied: Kaniva Leeor United Football Club)

The club did not play any football this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and changing border regulations.

Mr Gordon said it was a “huge decision” for the club to make, but it was the “best thing” for the club to do in the circumstances.

“The whole border issue has been wearing the people of the border community down,” he said.

Mr Gordon said the South Australian statewide shutdown last week, and Victoria’s 48 hour “hard border” response, reminded the club what was at stake.

“[It] just pricks everybody’s mind to thinking – if we go again, and playing in South Australia, it increases our risk of being shut down – because of that border issue.”

A small florescent green football lies on a football oval under lights in the foreground as men train in the background.
Community sport in border towns has had to contend with each state’s COVID-19 responses and changing travel restrictions.(ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle)

Mr Gordon said the South Australian-based Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League (KNTFL) competition had been “extremely generous” to the Victorian club.

“We have absolutely no problems with them or our opponents over there,” he said.

KNTFL President Peter McLellan said the competition supported Kaniva Leeor United’s decision “wholeheartedly”.

“We’re very upset that we’re losing a foundation club of Kowree-Naracoorte League,” Mr McLellan said.

“But realistically with COVID, this year’s proven there’s outbreaks and who can be 100 per cent sure next year that borders will be open, or not closed, or shut, at a moment’s notice?”

Only looking one season ahead

Mr Gordon said while the Horsham District Football Netball League had not yet accepted Kaniva Leeor United into their competition, the club was excited about its future.

“We get to play against new opposition, we get to meet new people, we get to do what you play country sport for,” he said.

Mr Gordon said club members wanted to get back to “some sort of normality” after a tough year on the border.

“That comes about from community sport and interaction with our neighbours and our friends and having a social life- having things that we look forward to.”

The sun shines down on a large and freshly-mowed tree lined football oval.
Kaniva Leeor United has been playing in the South Australian league for decades.(Supplied: Kavina Leeor United Football Club)

Mr McLellan said the club could return to the KNTFL in the future.

“They’re going have one year and we’re all hoping ’21 gets back to normal and if that’s proven right, well, hopefully, they can come back into our league and we’ll take them with open arms,” he said.

“We just wish them the best and hope they can come back to us.”



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