Female football on a high at Mt Druitt Town Rangers
2018 will be an exciting year for women’s football at the Mount Druitt Town Rangers as they enter the Football NSW Girls Conference League.
The NSW Girls Conference League will underpin the National Premier Leagues competition and fill a gap between Grassroots football and the Premier League competition.
The Rangers hope to unearth the next generation of talented players at the club through the program and are proud of the opportunities they have created over the last five years.
Coaches intrusted with the Conference competition are Eddie Mendez and Darren Newman who will build squads across the U14, U15 and U17 squads.
Newman was eagerly anticipating the commencement of the season.
“The 2018 Girls Conference League season has been a revelation in terms of attracting talented girls at MDTR, many with limited or no previous competitive playing experience.
“We have asked ourselves the question, how many more talented young female players are out there or at very least thought about playing but resisted because they have no competitive playing experience?.”
In 2018, the Rangers attracted a number of players that fill the bill, which excited Newman going forward.
“Whilst these players bring limited competitive playing experience, they bring a genuine quality which is ‘raw’ street football developed in the local park, street, backyard and school ground.
“Playing and having a ball at their feet chance they get and a passion for the game that drives them to be the best they can,” Newman said.
Newman believes talent identification starts at home, school and the street, where many girls know they have the talent but need to make the next step to realise what skills they possess.
Three girls that realised their talent are Yasmin, Malakai and Tiana who developed some skill playing with older brothers and sisters.
Malakai was selected in the Rangers Under 14’s team having never played competitive football prior to this season, playing football with her brother since the age of four.
“I wanted to give football a go and really wanted to play this year”, said Malakai.
Like Malakai, Yasmin developed her skills playing at home with her brother and comes to Mount Druitt having spent a year at a Nepean Association club.
“Dad made us a football pitch in our backyard and I would play soccer everyday with my brother. I really wanted to get more into soccer and play competitive”.
Tiana, a massive Real Madrid fan, spends a fair amount of time watching football on the television.
And it was the Spanish giants that inspired her to pull on the boots.
“I went to Melbourne when I was in year 5 to watch Real Madrid. It was a life changing moment watching the game live and it inspired me to practice and get better.”
Since then, Tiana has had a ball at her feet everyday and only stops when her mum tells her to stop kicking the ball in the house.
Tiana said, “people have approached me over the last few years asking me where I play. Many of my school teachers encouraged me to play. I am so happy I have the opportunity to develop my football this year.”
MDTR wishes to invite young females in U14, U15 and U17 who have a passion for the game and wish to develop those raw street football skills in a competitive and nurturing learning environment to send expression of interest to admin@mdtrangers.com.au.
-By Nikola Pozder
