“When I first joined Club Marconi in 1969 … the club gave me the opportunity to enhance further my commitment and wish to continue to develop the game as best I could,” he recalled to Michele Viscione during an interview on Rete Italia.
“I was one of the founders of the national league in 1977 and that gave me the opportunity to become the Chairman of the National League for close to about 12 years.”
After three years on the board, Labozzetta ultimately became the chairman of Soccer Australia in 2000.
“Also, I had the opportunity of being recognised by FIFA to be involved in the World Club Championship board in 2001,” he added.
He remains grateful of where his journey started.
“I’ve been very privileged that I had a base, a base called Marconi Club, which being the club that obviously is synonymous with the Italian community … which is second to none in Australia and I think it’s well recognised worldwide also.”
Labozzetta spoke at length about the role of the Italian community in building football in Australia.
“Well, there have been a great many contributors. I was lucky to be one of them,” he said.
“And I suppose you could say Sydney and Melbourne were the dominant people that were involved in the Italian community in particular. In Adelaide we had … the old Juventus. So, the Italians were fairly prominent in the development of the game and still are.”
When asked what he is most proud of, Tony turned his attention to unfinished business—the structure of the game itself.
“Well, I’m currently looking at ... re-evaluating the promotion and relegation issue, which is something which is very, very sad that we have been unable to resolve thus far,” he shared.
During the interview, Labozzetta didn’t shy away from criticism of the current state of Australian football.
“Well, there’s a difference … you’re looking at the passion,” he said.
“The clubs like APIA, you look at the tradition, the values and the commitment that they’ve put over the many years—Club Marconi, similarly.
“We have a lot of clubs that are not really passionate in the A-League—it’s fairly stagnant.
“And the biggest problem that we have, unfortunately, is promotion and relegation. You can’t sort of see a flow of players that are coming through...
“I think we’re looking at something like the American commitment, where money comes in first and you promote the clubs at that level.
“Whereas the game should be about promotion, relegation, incentive—and it should be achieved on the park, not just with money.
“So there are a number of issues which are fundamental and that comes down to passion.”
On Australian talent, Labozzetta offered an optimistic view.
“There are still emerging youngsters that are coming through, but perhaps not as many as there were in the earlier days,” he said.
“The potential is there. There’s no question about it. And we have always had this potential…
“All of those opportunities are still there available today, but they don’t get the exposure that perhaps they deserve.”
When asked if Italian identity in clubs is fading, Labozzetta was equally positive.
“I think that we are integrating, and I suppose that ultimately is the way to go,” he said.
“There’s a lot of positives emerging, but somehow we need to realise that the community base that was is now more integrated into the vaster, broader community, rather than the isolated Italian or Greek [communities] or so forth—which is a good sign at the end of the day.”
After nearly six decades in the game, Tony Labozzetta remains as passionate as ever, committed not only to football’s past, but to ensuring its long-term future in Australia.
