This weekend at the VCL gala day held in Mildura, Kliment Taseski of Melbourne Heart will be presenting alongside Ruth Wallace of Adelaide United. They will both captivate the audience with their own football journeys & experiences, whilst instilling the importance of alcohol safety and the risks of illicit drug use.

FFA believes that the practice of utilizing peer group player role models to present the education programs will more readily influence the audience they are addressing. The speakers will share with the audience relevant career pathway stories and instil powerful take- home messages about the importance of safe alcohol practices and the risk of using illicit drugs in sport.

The program will deliver designed specifically prepared presentations to male and female players ranging from 12 years to adults. Ultimately the program will infiltrate the FFA football player pathway, from the elite level of football to grass roots football, educating coaching groups, referees, volunteers, secondary schools and football clubs.

Following an impressive rise through the Victorian Premier League, Kliment Taseski is one of the leading youngsters to emerge from Victoria. Heading to South Melbourne on loan during the off-season, Taseski continued his stellar run at the VPL level, helping guide the lakeside club to a finals appearance. Making four first team appearances for the Melbourne Heart in 2010/11 season, Taseski will be looking to build on his debut season in the professional ranks and take the next step. Unfortunately Taseski has been battling a foot injury for the beginning  of the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season, but has all intentions on being back on the park for Heart before the end of the season.

Ruth grew up just outside of Adelaide in a suburb called Moana right on the beach. She now lives in Aldinga Beach with her Dad. I finished high school last year and is now a full time trainee with the South Australian National Football League (Aussie Rules) in the Aboriginal Pathways to Excellence program. Ruth started playing school soccer aged 9, club soccer at 11 and state soccer at 12 for Queensland when she and her family moved up there for 2 years. She came back to SA and played 3 years with the South Australian Sports Institute and represented Australia during her time there. She has also played with Adelaide United since 2008 and is currently in the squad for the 2011- 2012 season.