Sports stars’ hope for injury woes

Published on: November 14, 2018 by Mary Category:W-League

This article was written by Melissa Muscat.

Sport. It can enable you to feel the highest of highs and lowest of lows. As a true sports lover who watches passionately from the stands, I’ve witnessed both ends. When my team wins a premiership…not much else compares. When they finish last, you write the whole year off as a bad one. As a professional sportsman or sportswoman, the feelings and emotions must be at another intensity. Being part of an unsuccessful team is one thing, but when it involves matters out of one’s control like injury, that’s another level. There’s lots that can go wrong with the body but from knowing those who have endured the ACL rupture, it’s this one that seems the cruelest of blows to many athletes, namely due to the nine to 12 month time frame it takes to recover. Just last week our very own Socceroo Daniel Arzani was confirmed to have ruptured his ACL on debut for Celtic. Sending sincere get well wishes to our youngest World Cup hero, hoping his recovery is strong and swift.

It’s time for all of us to #GetOnside

Published on: November 2, 2018November 2, 2018 by Mary Category:W-League

This article was first written for and published by the Roar.

This week, the FFA officially launched its bid for Australia to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the hashtag #GetOnside and it’s been blowing up on social media.

This launch has been one of my favourite sporting social media campaigns of the year because the FFA have really gone back to basics. They’ve remembered that for most people, participation in and following sport is all about feeling part of something. Sport has the power to bring people together in a way almost nothing else can and this bid has brought together all sorts of football fans.

The W-League returns!

Published on: October 28, 2018October 28, 2018 by Mary Category:W-League

This article was first written and published for The Roar.

This week the 2018-19 edition of the W-League commenced with a classic Sydney derby, played in front of 1500 fans at Marconi Stadium.

Sydney derbies are always spicy, but this game had a bit of extra heat to it, with several former teammates playing against each other for the first time.

In the first ten minutes of the game, both teams looked likely to score with Lisa de Vanna, Leena Khamis and Caitlin Foord all having shots at goal, but it was Sydney FC that drew first blood through Foord in the 13th minute after she caught Jada Whyman off her line.

From wooden spoon to champions – Over 30 women’s team wins minor premiership

Published on: August 7, 2018 by Mary Category:W-League

This article was written by Marisa Zammit.

Barely 12 months after coming last in the competition, the over 30s women’s football soccer team “Beryl’s Bells” – from Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club – have taken the minor premiership title this year – for the first time in the club’s history.

The victory is particularly special as the team was named in memory of one of its players, Beryl Crockford, an Olympic silver medal winner who was tragically killed in 2016 in a cycling accident.

Team manager Marisa Zammit said Beryl was not only a skilful player on the field, but an inspiring team member who encouraged her colleagues to get involved in the sport regardless of skill or experience.

“In memory of Beryl, the Club has created a yearly award that is presented to a player that demonstrates characteristics like Beryl on and off the field,” Ms Zammit said.

“We are a mix of dedicated football players at all skill levels, with some of our members having played for over 20 years, while others have started playing only this season.

“A few mums in the team are coaches to their daughters’ junior teams at RLWSC and others are board members; they love team sports and have come back to the game after having a break to study, travel or care for the family.”

The team is led by volunteer coach, Dennys Vegara, a player in the over 35s men’s division from Abbotsford Juniors Football Club, who he has helped the ladies in their skill development and confidence on playing the ball at weekly training sessions and side line coaching.

“I am so proud of the ladies,” Mr Vegara said.

“They have come together and achieved a great result – from, last place to champions. It’s a truly amazing effort and I am thrilled to have been part of that success, and humbled by the hard work team members have put in, week in and week out.

” It’s been a great journey for me as coach to see the ladies develop their skills and enjoy playing the sport that I love.”

RLWSC is the only women’s only soccer club in NSW with both Junior and Senior teams.

The Club’s Vice President and player Jodie Wilson said: “Our club is focused on player enjoyment and player development and we cater for players from the age of five to over 50. We have a long history of promoting female soccer, starting off in the 1980s.”

Ms Wilson also congratulated all the teams that have made it to the finals:

Women Intermediate League, Division 3

Girls Under 12, Division 2

Girls Under 14, Division 1 – Final

Division 1 GMT – Grace Martin Trophy

Women All Age, Division 3

Women All Age, Division 4

Women over 30, Division 2

Women’s World Cups part of strategic bidding plan

Published on: July 27, 2018July 27, 2018 by Mary Category:W-League

This article was first written and published for The Roar.

This week the New South Wales government signalled its intention to be a heavy hitter in the sporting event space over the next ten years with a strategic decision announced on Monday to bid for ten world cups in the next ten years.

When it comes to women’s sport, I always say it is important to celebrate how far we have come, while continuing to strive to be better because we still have a very long way to go.