International Korfball Federation
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Documents
  • IKF Members
  • Organisation
  • Equal & Clean!
  • Contact
  • Search
01_aus_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: Australia (IKF WKC 2019)

July 22, 2019/0 Comments/in Interview /by Dani Ezpeleta

New Australian generation striving to beat the challenge of distance

Australia arrives in Durban with the IKF’s number ten ranking. They have played at every IKF WKC since 1984, including 1995 when they narrowly missed out on the bronze medal. More recently, Australia won bronze at the IKF Asia Oceania Korfball Championships 2018 a year after securing a creditable sixth placing at the World Games 2017.

However, this tournament is part of a rebuild for Australian korfball, with only one player back from the World Games squad, and a new coach. Almost two decades after he started coaching Australia, Phil Sibbons stepped down following last year’s IKF AOKC. Tim Miller, whose playing career included the IKF WKC 1995, took over and started preparing his new squad in January.

Tim sets Australia’s aspirations in Durban in context:

“Our goal is to play an exciting brand of korfball that gives us the best opportunity to finish as high as possible in our pool. Ultimately, we want to continue to develop and to compete with those countries that have far greater access to regular international korfball than we do in Australia,” he says.

Distance is always the biggest challenge for Australian korfball development, both the distance to international tournaments, and the distance separating korfball communities within the country.

“South Australia is historically our main korfball region; ten of our current squad call Adelaide home, though the recent development of new korfball communities in New South Wales and Victoria sees three players from those states on the plane to South Africa. We also have one player based in London and another based in the Netherlands. Integrating them into our preparation programme is difficult. For example, for Ben Wallace and Lauren Charlton, our Newcastle players, traveling to prepare with the squad in Adelaide is a significant commitment. Their quickest journey is a train to Sydney then a flight to Adelaide, taking in total about six and a half hours, while the cheapest way would be a 16 hour car journey. As a reference, the flight time from Lisbon, Portugal to Moscow, Russia is five and a half hours.

“As a result, 30 July, in Durban, will be the first day our entire squad is together in one place.

Team Australia

Team Australia

“All that effort is well worthwhile though, particularly for those based in New South Wales and Victoria, who will carry invaluable experience home with them to help progress their local korfball,” says Tim.

Family ties provide the threads that bind many korfball communities together. Australia is no different. Australia’s IKF WKC 2019 squad contains five siblings from two families: Andrew and Emily Hutchesson; and Lauren, Georgia and Nik Bungey, with the latter family having a particularly strong korfball heritage, as Tim explains.

“Sharyn and Bruce Bungey represented Australia in the very first Australian team. Sharyn played in the IKF WKC of 1984, 1987 and 1991. Bruce coached Australia in 1987 and 1991, and then again in 1999, having refereed in the 1995 event. Sharyn is also our squad manager for this tournament. Having Lauren, Georgia and Nik in our squad is another chapter in the story.

“Siblings in the team is a common occurrence for Australian korfball. At the IKF U23 AOKC 2015 we actually had four sets of siblings representing Australia,” he said.

London-based squad member Tamika Zilm also has a strong Australian korfball lineage, with her father Mark playing international korfball in the past, as well as serving at the Korfball Australia chair.

Tim is looking forward to seeing Jeffrey Vlietstra settle in. Born and based in the Netherlands, where he plays for KV Viko, Jeffrey’s mother was born in Australia.

“Jeffrey brings a wealth of korfball experience that his new Australian teammates are keen to share,” says Tim.

Adding Jeffrey’s experience to the mix will be part of the fun for Tim in Durban.

“Like every other team, we want to secure the highest possible ranking. Margins can be fine at the WKC, with the difference between finishing top eight, compared to a much lower final placing, difficult to determine. I know my players are fearless, support each other to the end, and know how to enjoy themselves. I’m sure we will play with pride, and leave the tournament with smiles on our faces,” he says.

#TeamAUS IKF WKC 2019

1: Jazz Zulfic
3: Emily Hutchesson
4: Lauren Bungey
5: Tamika Zilm
6: Nicholas Bungey
7: Lauren Charlton
8: Zac Marshall
9: Georgia Bungey
10: Cameron Mclean
11: Benjamin Wallace
13: Amy Kubank
14: Andrew Hutchesson
16: Bethan Channing
17: Jeffrey Vlietstra
18: Greg Perry

Coach: Tim Miller
Managers: Sharyn Bungey, Kristina Marshall

#TeamAUS on social media:

► facebook.com/Korfball-Australia-365371480145840
► twitter.com/KorfballAus
► instagram.com/korfballaustralia

Follow the tournament!

Live streaming games and statistics ► www.worldkorfball.sport
Tournament info, pools & schedule ► 
www.ikf.org/?p=6667
Official websites 
 ► www.korfball.sport ► www.ikfwkc2019.com

Follow all the championship also on social media visiting the following IKF profiles:
► facebook.com/korfball.org
► twitter.com/korfball
► instagram.com/korfball_org

More info and special content can be found on LOC’s tournament profiles:
► facebook.com/ikfwkc2019
► twitter.com/ikfwkc2019
► instagram.com/ikfwkc2019

Tags: Durban, IKF World Korfball Championship, wkc
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by Mail
All/Column/Interview/Korfball News/Organisational news
SPEL0056

Looking forward to 2021

ColumnJanuary 1, 2021/by Jan Fransoo
Only 12 months ago, we could not have imagined that the Europa Cup and Europa Shield in January would be the only two international…
thum_DESIGN_webpost

Morocco to host first World Beach Korfball Championship 2021

Beach KorfballDecember 23, 2020/by Tilbert La Haye
The IKF is extremely happy to announce that the first 'IKF World Beach Korfball Championship' will be held this summer in…
web_ikf_utrech_new_headquarters_front_Dec2020

IKF Office changed headquarters

Organisational newsDecember 8, 2020/by Geke Maat
The IKF Office changed its headquarters earlier this month. Previously located in Zeist, the IKF Office now moved to the…
web_dec_officer_nov2020

Jorge Alves (POR) joins the IKF Executive Committee

Organisational newsNovember 27, 2020/by Geke Maat
The Council of the International Korfball Federation has appointed Mr Jorge Alves as a Member of the IKF Executive Committee…
web_ekt_2021_v5_update_nov2020

IKF European Korfball Tour – update November

EuropeNovember 25, 2020/by Tilbert La Haye
It is with great regret that the IKF EXCO has decided to cancel the IKF European Korfball Tour (EKT) Finals 2021 in February.…
SPEL0056

Looking forward to 2021

ColumnJanuary 1, 2021/by Jan Fransoo
Only 12 months ago, we could not have imagined that the Europa Cup and Europa Shield in January would be the only two international…
covid19_update_2

Stay healthy and safe! – an update from the IKF President

ColumnMarch 18, 2020/by Jan Fransoo
As the Novel Coronavirus has been spreading across the globe, the associated disease COVID-19 is taking more and more people…
ikfgm2019

Entering a New Korfball Decade – New Year’s Message from the IKF President

ColumnJanuary 1, 2020/by Jan Fransoo
This January we do not just enter a New Year, we actually enter a new decade. For many companies and other organizations,…
season's greetings

An important year ahead – New Year’s Message from the IKF President

ColumnJanuary 1, 2019/by Jan Fransoo
As 2019 commences, it provides us with a good moment to reflect on where we are and what needs to be accomplished to further…
La Hay - Fransoo - Faria and SportAccord 2018

IKF’s presence at SportAccord

ColumnApril 21, 2018/by Jan Fransoo
by Jan Fransoo, IKF President The IKF, along with about 100 other international sports federations and about 2000 delegates…
07_eng_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: England (IKF WKC 2019)

InterviewJuly 27, 2019/by Dani Ezpeleta
Passion, skill and unity drive England in top six quest England has featured in every IKF World Korfball Championship, playing…
17_por_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: Portugal (IKF WKC 2019)

InterviewJuly 27, 2019/by Dani Ezpeleta
Recent triumphs energise Portugal Portugal goes to the IKF World Korfball Championship 2019 buoyed up by two recent significant…
03_cat_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: Catalonia (IKF WKC 2019)

InterviewJuly 27, 2019/by Dani Ezpeleta
After dropping back, Catalonia looks forward Last year at the IKF European Korfball Championship 2018 Catalonia finished…
19_rsa_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: South Africa (IKF WKC 2019)

InterviewJuly 24, 2019/by Dani Ezpeleta
Host aims to build on most intense preparation ever South Africa is the only African country to have participated at the…
06_cze_ikfwkc2019

#TheTeamFiles: Czech Republic (IKF WKC 2019)

InterviewJuly 24, 2019/by Dani Ezpeleta
Czechs strive for a way back to korfball’s highest level The Czech Republic has a special place in international korfball…
thum_DESIGN_webpost

Morocco to host first World Beach Korfball Championship 2021

Beach KorfballDecember 23, 2020/by Tilbert La Haye
The IKF is extremely happy to announce that the first 'IKF World Beach Korfball Championship' will be held this summer in…
web_ekt_2021_v5_update_nov2020

IKF European Korfball Tour – update November

EuropeNovember 25, 2020/by Tilbert La Haye
It is with great regret that the IKF EXCO has decided to cancel the IKF European Korfball Tour (EKT) Finals 2021 in February.…
web_marcom_call_oct2020

Open Call – IKF Marketing and Communication Committee

Korfball NewsOctober 20, 2020/by Geke Maat
Help the world to fall in love with korfball! Do you love korfball? Do you have skills as a communicator? Would you like…
web_ekt_2021_v4_update15oct2020

IKF European Korfball Tour 2021 – update October

EuropeOctober 15, 2020/by Dani Ezpeleta
The IKF EXCO has decided to cancel the IKF European Korfball Tour Challenger(s) in January 2021. This decision has been taken…
webinar_31oct2020_web

IKF Playing Rules webinar for IKF referees and assessors

Korfball NewsOctober 15, 2020/by Geke Maat
The IKF published the revised IKF Playing Rules last July. Following this publication, the Playing Rules Committee and the…
SPEL0056

Looking forward to 2021

ColumnJanuary 1, 2021/by Jan Fransoo
Only 12 months ago, we could not have imagined that the Europa Cup and Europa Shield in January would be the only two international…
web_ikf_utrech_new_headquarters_front_Dec2020

IKF Office changed headquarters

Organisational newsDecember 8, 2020/by Geke Maat
The IKF Office changed its headquarters earlier this month. Previously located in Zeist, the IKF Office now moved to the…
web_dec_officer_nov2020

Jorge Alves (POR) joins the IKF Executive Committee

Organisational newsNovember 27, 2020/by Geke Maat
The Council of the International Korfball Federation has appointed Mr Jorge Alves as a Member of the IKF Executive Committee…
erasmus_2021_grant_v1

IKF Erasmus+ Sport Grant 2021

Organisational newsNovember 6, 2020/by Geke Maat
The IKF is proud to announce that its Erasmus+ Sport 2021 application has been selected for funding by the European Commission.…
korfball_international_magazines_nov2020

Digitalised IKF Korfball International Magazines

Organisational newsNovember 5, 2020/by Geke Maat
Up until 2011, the IKF published the magazine Korfball International. Due to the digitalisation of the data and communication…
© Copyright - International Korfball Federation - Website by Draad
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
#TheTeamFiles: Suriname (IKF WKC 2019) 20_sur_ikfwkc2019 02_bel_ikfwkc2019 #TheTeamFiles: Belgium (IKF WKC 2019)
Scroll to top