A FORMER Socceroo has found a way of bringing together two of Australia's great passions — and he's launching it close to home this weekend.
David Zdrilic, a St George junior, will launch Gol Beach Soccer at Dolls Point Beach on Sunday.
The game is a modified version of beach soccer played on a smaller field with no goalkeeper.
Zdrilic, who scored 20 goals in 30 appearances for Australia, said finding a way to combine football with the beach had been something at the front of his mind since retiring as a professional.
"I do it all the time, it's the only fitness I do now," he said.
"I'm playing at the beaches down at Brighton all the time.
"It's easy to set up a little field and so easy to just get a really good fitness session on the beach.
"You can go for a swim after and you don't even notice you're working hard."
The 41-year-old said Gol Beach Soccer had benefits for players young and old, with children developing skills, fitness and technique and older players not having to deal with sore joints after pounding up and down hard fields.
Zdrilic, who played professionally in Europe for almost 10 years before returning to the A-League with Sydney FC, said a highlight of the day would be the Sydney Derby between former Sky Blues and Western Sydney Wanderers players.
Former professional players and now Wanderers coach Tony Popovic, keeping coach Zeljko Kalac and assistant Hayden Foxe as well as Sydney FC assistant Steve Corica will all be involved in the match.
The day will also feature junior and senior matches, with children from the St George Football Association's special needs football program, the St George Warriors, also invited to participate.
Have you given Gol a go?
