Western students kick goals with the Wanderers

Wanderers intern and Bachelor of Communications (Media Arts Production) student, Tanatswa Makopa

Four talented Western Sydney University undergraduate students are receiving a boost to their professional experience as interns at the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club.

As part of the University’s longstanding partnership with the Wanderers, Tanatswa Makopa, Siobhan Gregory, Gabriella Cipri and Jodie Hall have commenced multimedia production and fan engagement internships at the Club.

The students are working at the Club’s elite facilities at Blacktown Football Park, and also have the opportunity to attend A-League match days.

For twenty-two-year-old Tanatswa Makopa, a Bachelor of Communications (Media Arts Production) student, working with the Wanderers has given him the opportunity to develop his videography skills further and help share the diverse stories of Western Sydney.

“I went to school just down the road from the Wanderers — I can still remember the buzz when the Club first started up, amongst both us students and the local community,” said Tanatswa.

“I have kept up with the Club ever since, so when an internship opportunity came up through the partnership with the University, I knew I had to apply.”

As a passionate and talented video producer, Tanatswa has been given the creative freedom to work directly with the players and to lead projects close to his heart.

“As a student from an African background, it’s been a huge honour to work on a special video with my community for World Harmony Day.”

“The culture at the Wanderers is very inclusive and it's an empowering environment to work in.”

Tanatswa said there are a lot of similarities between Western Sydney University and the Wanderers and the partnership is a “match made in heaven”.

“Both organisations are working to celebrate the diverse cultures and achievements of people in our region — I’m proud to be a part of this.”

Bachelor of Business (Sport Management and Marketing) student, Siobhan Gregory, and Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) student, Gabriella Cipri, both Wanderers interns

For twenty-year-old Siobhan Gregory, sport has always been a part of her life. An avid soccer enthusiast, she is now studying a Bachelor of Business (Sport Management and Marketing) at Western Sydney University.

“As much as I love sport, I realised competing at a professional level wasn’t for me. Instead, I chose to focus my passion and energy on the fan engagement side of things,” said Siobhan.

“It’s been rewarding to intern with the Wanderers — a highlight so far has been working at the team’s first game of the season and watching the fans return after a disrupted year.”

“I’m enjoying being in the Wanderers headquarters two days a week — it’s a motivating environment. On match days, I help run the membership hub to ensure the fans have the best game-day experience possible.”

As part of their internships, the students will benefit from access to the Club’s professional and sports staff, and will be involved in multimedia production, ticketing and promotion and event support.

“Sporting organisations are all so unique and I’m determined to get as much hands-on experience in the industry as I can. The Uni’s partnership with the Wanderers has opened doors for its students,” commented Siobhan.

Western Sydney University has been the official education partner of the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club since 2013. The partnership includes student internships, scholarships and applied projects; membership and ticket offers for students and staff; and collaborative education programs, including for local schools.

ENDS

19 March 2021

Ali Sardyga, Media Officer