Today as part of Female Football Week we profile some young juniors of the game and find out why they love football.

Today we profile some young players in our game – Janaya, Helena, Jada and Kellie.  These girls are part of the FSC Girls (SAP) Skills Acquisition Program.  Girls SAP offers a development opportunity and outcome that will increase the skill level of girls entering the talented player pathway competitions. Being selected in the Girls SAP team, enables the girls to not only play football with their SAP team mates but allows them to remain playing with their local club football team too.  

I spoke to each of the girls to find out more about their love of the game.

Janaya began playing football only two years ago.  She currently plays at Unanderra and hopes that one day she can become a striker for the Matildas.   Having fun, learning new tricks as well as making new friends is a part of the football experience that Janaya enjoys. 

Helena joined the SAP program after only a year of playing for Balgownie, Helena was born in Wales and since making the trek to Australia has found a love for the game of football, which she hopes one day will take her back the UK to represent Liverpool FC women’s side. Learning new tricks and how to play different positions on the field are just some of the aspects of the SAP program that Helena is so fond of. Helena’s favourite position is defence because she loves the thrill of the chase.

Friends, family, football and surfing are among a number of passions Jada possesses. With her father, a surfing enthusiast and her brother a coach, there is a lot of athletic potential for this young lady. Originally starting football 5 years ago after kicking a ball around with her brother, Jada has developed her own passion for the game. Jada looks up to Tim Cahill and her favourite team is the mighty Matildas. Jada wants the best of both worlds with football and surfing and will continue to participate in both until her heart’s content (which is no time soon).

Kellie’s role model is the Illawarra’s very own Matilda, Michelle Heyman. Kellie loves her SAP coach because much like her Fernhill coach, they are both “super, super fun and they teach us new tricks to use in games”. This is the first time Kellie has ever had a female coach and believes it is a wonderful experience, and she cannot wait to see what new and exciting things she will learn. Kellie began playing football at school because her brothers played, she thoroughly enjoyed it and five years of football later she joined FSC’s first girls SAP program. Kellie wants to play right back for the Matildas when she grows up. By the level of maturity and respect for the game this young girl has, she has more than enough potential to make this particular dream a reality.

All these girls possess an immense amount of energy, respect and love for football and their female coaches and there is no reason why they won’t be playing for the Matilda’s some time in the future.  Good luck girls.

Story by Samantha Jordan.