By Laura Michell
Alana Jancevski’s dreams are coming true.
The year 10 student at St Monica’s College has been selected to represent Australia as part of the junior Matildas squad for the under 16 Asian Women’s Championship qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from September 17.
Alana is part of a 23-player squad which will compete in four games over nine days to secure a place at the championships next year.
It will be her first time representing Australia.
“I am very humbled to be part of the squad, and a bit nervous, but that is to be expected. I’m just really excited to get the chance to play the game I love,” she said.
“It was always my aspiration to play for Australia. To see it coming true … it’s hard to put into words.”
Alana has been playing soccer for 10 years, starting out playing in her yard with her older brother at four years of age.
At five, she joined her first team. She now plays for the National Training Centre – the Victorian state team – and is part of St Monica’s Northern Football Academy.
Alana hopes to one day play for the senior Matildas, join a W-League team and maybe even have a career overseas.
Northern Football Academy director Luca Finanzio said Alana’s achievements did not surprise him.
“She exhibits all the traits of an elite competitor in everything she does, whether it is during a training session, fulfilling her duties as class vice-captain, completing practice essays for
Macbeth in English or preparing for a test in sport science,” he said.
