Organised to win: Meet the man keeping the CommBank Matildas on time and ready for victory in the AFC Women's Asian Cup

The CommBank Matildas’ AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign doesn’t begin on the training pitch. It starts in airport terminals at 1am, in hotel corridors before dawn, and inside carefully designed team spaces stocked with Vegemite, Weetbix and world-class coffee.

Matildas General Manager Benny Roche is the problem-solver making sure it’s all running smoothly long before kick-off.

Roche, who represented Australia as a Pararoo, understands tournament football from lived experience. Now, instead of preparing himself for competition, he’s building the environment that allows the CommBank Matildas to perform at their best.

“Obviously, [there are] lots of moving parts when we come into a major tournament like this,” Roche says. “So we try and create a space for the players where they're comfortable and have access to everything they need … and create a little home away from home.”

Getting ready for campaign kick-off

The CommBank Matildas are about to kick-off their Asian Cup campaign against the Philippines in Perth, so that “home away from home” is vital, especially when they have the weight of a nation on their shoulders.

The squad travels with chefs who work closely with the team’s nutritionist. There’s a dedicated team meeting space for tactical and match-day briefings, and a recovery and sports science room set up to support players through travel fatigue and tournament demands.

Bed linen is a top priority for the CommBank Matildas, who get decked out with custom pillows and sheets on day one of camp.

Getting the coffee right

Obviously coffee matters too.

“One of the top latte artists in the world lives in Perth,” Roche says. “She’s helping us out while we’re here.”

Coffee will continue to get special attention as the team shifts camp through the tournament, with appropriate arrangements also made for its stay on the Gold Coast, Roche says.

This kind of attention to detail reflects Roche’s philosophy: if he does his job well, everything else comes together.

“I always really loved the behind the scenes aspect, and I feel if I do my job well, then it can flow nicely for everyone else,” he says.

Early challenges as the team gathers

The first days of camp are often the most challenging for Roche. 

“The first few days of camp are tough,” he says.

“You’ve got players leaving the clubs. You’ve got flights being delayed, transfers not showing up and things like that.

Keeping things running smoothly is demanding, with sleep at a premium.

“At this time, I’m probably getting three, four hours a night,” Roche says, describing a hectic schedule of 3.30am starts and 1am airport pickups.

Winning off the pitch

While fans see training drills and match-day moments, much of Roche’s impact happens out of sight, managing key aspects of the tournament like logistics, player welfare and coordination with key stakeholders,allowing players and coaches to remain focussed on peak performance.

One of his biggest responsibilities happens well before players arrive in camp, working with domestic and international clubs to manage availability and approvals. “I deal directly with the clubs for their (players’) releases, so having a really good dialogue with them is important,” he says.

Roche says his day doesn’t end when camp activities do. With players based around the world, communication runs almost around the clock. “Normally as I’m wrapping up my day here, it’s when their days are starting,” he says.

Inside camp, he becomes a ready point of contact for planning and practicalities.

“It might be as simple as schedules for the day,” Roche says.

“I try and provide as much information around future movement so they can plan what they’re doing with their personal items and things like that. Or it can be as simple as sorting out the nearest shop or the chemist.”

From player to management

Before stepping into administration, Roche wore the green and gold as a Pararoo, experience that now shapes how he builds environments for others to thrive in.

“When the opportunity came up to work full time with the Matildas, it was something I was very quick to jump at,” he says. “I had the opportunity to be at the World Cup with them and a few other tournament windows. It’s just too good not to.”

As competition days approach, his attention shifts to venue coordination and tournament logistics.

It’s work that rarely makes headlines but shapes every headline performance. From late-night airport runs to early-morning planning calls, Roche’s influence runs through every part of the camp.

If the Matildas are free to focus purely on football at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, it’s because the details behind the scenes have been expertly handled without fuss.