Remarkable gesture of a local soccer president after 'idiot' hooligans destroyed the beloved club - as he invites them to JOIN his team for one moving reason
- Roof, toilets, lights and windows at Scarborough Park in Sydney destroyed
- Two men dressed in black used poles to attack building, fled on black bicycles
- President of Kogarah Waratah FC said the vandals should repair and help club
A local soccer club that suffered tens of thousands of dollars of damage has incredibly invited the hooligans who destroyed their facilities to join the club they attacked, fearing they were kids 'lead down the wrong path'.
The clubhouse of Sydney soccer club Kogarah Waratah FC, which has 350 members and 24 teams, was smashed up on Sunday, with the cost of repairs expected to run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Police were called to Scarborough Park at Monterey in Sydney's south-west after calls reported windows, lights, roofing, locks, sporting equipment and toilets were significantly damaged by two 'unknown persons' attacking the building with poles.
Hooligans smashed facilities at soccer club Kogarah Waratah FC's home ground, at Scarborough Park, Monterey in Sydney on Sunday - drawing an incredible offer from the forgiving club's president: help us fix it and join us
Kogarah Waratah FC president Raff Dardano said the damage would cost tens of thousands of dollars and that seeing the vandalism felt like his own home had been attacked
Kogarah Waratah FC president Raff Dardano said someone will boast about what they've done - and when they do, the people they tell need to be strong enough to tell authorities
The park facilities, which were just upgraded at a cost of more than $300,000, are used by soccer and touch football players, cricketers and by parents and young children.
A statement by NSW police described the pair as 'last seen wearing black tracksuits and fleeing the scene on black pushbikes'.
Kogarah Waratah FC president Raff Dardano was at the club at 3pm on Sunday and started receiving calls it had been wrecked that evening.
'It's gut-wrenching. For the 30 or more people who volunteer down there it's like our own homes were destroyed.
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'For half an hour of fun these idiots have done untold damage to something very important to us.'
He said up to 500 people use the park on a normal Saturday and the facilities are also located for the use of parents and children.
Mr Dardano believed 'sooner or later' someone will not be able to resist 'boasting' about the damage they caused.
The attackers, who were dressed in black and fled on black bicycles, attacked the club using poles
The vandals smashed rooves, locks, windows, sporting gear and toilets in their rampage
'The people they tell need to be strong enough to report it to the council and police.'
Remarkably, Mr Dardano doesn't want the vandals punished or their parents to pay - presuming they are juveniles.
'We can't say for sure, but it's probably juveniles with too much time on their hands,' said Mr Dardano.
'If you've got nothing better to do than damage our facilities then come and get involved in the club and put energy to good use.'
'Obviously they've been led down the wrong path, but I wouldn't blame the parents or even expect them to pay.'
'They should pay with their time, do community service here. Help us fix things up and put some Saturdays in at the club, like we do.'
Mr Dardano said the people involved might 'feel better about themselves' if they 'help some kids to play football'.
'Maybe it's what they are missing in their lives - feeling useful and part of something.'
To date no security camera footage has been recovered but police want anyone with information or video footage - including dashcam or CCTV - to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
