Andy Harper coaches Football Mid North Coast under-12 boys ahead of Sydney Invitational Cup

They will now have to bide their time after health concerns relating to Sydney's growing COVID-19 outbreak forced the postponement of the tournament.

Currently based in Nabiac, the respected Foxtel commentator and 321-game veteran was invited to coach the team for a number of sessions in the lead-up to the competition.

He was impressed with the level of talent he saw, but didn't like the conditions they were forced to do it in.

"We got hit with the pincer movement of lack of playing fields which is something local authorities have to seriously look at," he said.

"In a country as sparsely populated as ours, it's got to be the most underpopulated continent outside of Antarctica.

"Space is not an issue, yet we still don't have anywhere for kids to play. And then when it rains you can forget about it. It's utterly ridiculous that Australia - in 2021 with the so-called sporting history of this country - cannot access the land resources for kids to play sport.

"I find it utterly staggering."

Harper coached the team for up to eight sessions and he said the most impressive aspect about them was their ability to absorb information.

That willingness to learn had them poised to mix it with the best players metropolitan areas had to offer.

"I'm really confident they're going to stand up to that test and in the process perhaps even surprise themselves," Harper said.

"When they get the opportunity to play, whenever that may be, I think many of them will be nervous with the expectation of being country kids playing against kids from the Big Smoke.

"Once they've dealt with that and that foundation has been laid, they'll surprise a lot of the kids out of Sydney."

When the competition may be played depends largely on Sydney's ability to get the latest outbreak under control, but Harper didn't feel it would have too much of an adverse impact on the players.

They will return to local competitions.

"It's a case of what you don't know you can't miss," Harper said.

"So not having yet had the opportunity to play in a tournament like the Sydney Invitational Cup means while they're very disappointed, they're protected a little bit by not knowing exactly how good it could have been.

"They haven't been there before."

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