News
Two MDNSW members, Chris Hastas and Ryan Seck, have just competed in the Asia Pacific Oceania (APO) Powerchair Football Cup Champions title in Brisbane. They were selected earlier this year by the Australian Powerchair Football Association (APFA) to represent the country’s powerchair football team, the Poweroos.
Powerchair football is a fast-paced, tactical sport that gives powerchair users the chance to play the game they love at an elite level.
Chris (34) and Ryan (18) spent the past few months training and competing for a place in the final Aussie squad. They proudly represented NSW as they helped defend Australia’s APO Cup Championship title against teams from Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
It was the third time Australia hosted this major international event. The Poweroos successfully defended their 2019 title, securing them a spot in the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup in Argentina.
This year’s squad brought together a mix of experienced players and exciting new talent, including Chris and Ryan, who made their debut at this senior level.
For Chris, being a part of the eight-player Aussie squad was a dream come true.
“It was and still is quite surreal to me,” Chris admitted. “I’ve never played for any representative team before this. A year ago, I was struggling even within my own team. To play on this team is something I really thought would never happen, but I’ve given my absolute all and tried to learn and listen as much as possible to get to this point.”
Chris’s journey began back in 2009, when he joined the Newcastle Jets Powerchair Football Club. A lifelong football fan, the opportunity to play any version of the sport was irresistible.
“I started a team with my good friends, and we created so many amazing memories. Powerchair football was something I was proud to talk about,” he said.
The sport gave Chris not only an outlet for his competitive spirit but also a sense of community and belonging.
“There’s a community aspect to playing the sport. It has enriched my social life,” Chris shared. “I love being able to compete, achieve things in the sporting world, and keep challenging myself to be better.”
Fast forward to today, Chris has taken the international stage as a senior Poweroos athlete for the first time. Representing Australia was a privilege he didn’t take lightly.
“This was realising a dream – to play for my country,” he said. “It’s one of the highest honours, and I gave my absolute best, both professionally and skill-wise. This shows that it truly pays off to never give up and always believe in yourself.”
To prepare, Chris and his teammates trained hard.
“We trained every Friday with our club, and we had several Australian training camps before the tournament so we could all be as sharp as possible,” Chris explained.
For Ryan, powerchair football has been a journey of passion, persistence and purpose. His first taste of the sport came at an MDNSW Summer Camp come-and-try workshop. Here he discovered a love for the game and a vibrant community of athletes with diverse abilities.
“Being in a community with other people of different abilities provided me with a sense of belonging,” Ryan explained. “It showed me the potential for disability sports to be pursued at a professional level.”
Ryan had been part of the Poweroos training squad since 2019, so the moment he learned he’d made the senior squad for the APO Cup was particularly special.
“Finding out that I would be representing Australia in the senior team was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life,” he said. “After all the challenges and setbacks leading up to this point, it was all the more rewarding to see 8 years of dedication pay off.”
Leading up to the APO Powerchair Football Cup, Ryan attended multiple intense training camps across Australia with the Poweroos. Each camp spanned three to four days, with six hours of drills, scrimmage and tactical preparation every day.
For Ryan, the thing that makes powerchair football so thrilling is its speed, strategy and the chance to test himself against elite athletes.
“I love that every decision has to be made in a split second. It’s tactical and fast-paced, and I get to play with and against my friends and meet international talent at the same time,” he said.
Ryan was excited to debut as a senior squad member.
“What I was most looking forward to at the APO Cup was facing the best players in the region and getting the chance to prove we’re the best,” he said.
A huge congratulations to Ryan, Chris and the Poweroos for defending their APO Cup title, holding onto the championship they claimed in 2019.
We couldn’t be prouder watching them take on the international stage with skill, determination and heart.
Their achievement highlights the incredible talent in the neuromuscular community and in Australian powerchair sports. It also inspires the next generation of athletes to chase their dreams, no matter the challenges.
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Email: info@mdnsw.org.au
Phone: (02) 9888 5711
Freecall: 1800 635 109
Muscular Dystrophy NSW
ABN 11 774 587 436
Phone: (02) 9888 5711
Freecall: 1800 635 109
Email: info@mdnsw.org.au
Postal Address: PO Box 3071, North Strathfield NSW 2137
Muscular Dystrophy NSW would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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