Cobargo’s Eliza-Jane Norris, 12, is taking her football to a new level on two different platforms.
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EJ, as she’s known to friends, has been named as part of the NSW state team in Futsal, while she has also been selected to play for Woden-Weston in Canberra as part of the Women’s Premier League Football.
Highly regarded as a sprinter, the Sapphire Coast Anglican College student captained the undefeated Bega White Devils under 12 side in the grand final to cap off a flawless season.
Proud mum Rhonda Ayliffe said a highlight was her double-hat-trick against Pambula mid-season.
Far South Coast representative coach Alfred Oesch said he saw potential in EJ from the outset.
“When I first saw her play my thought was she had the ability to play professionally,” Mr Oesch said.
He said her speed and footwork made her something of a spectacle on the field, while she could outsprint just about anyone on the field.
“When you see her on the field she stands out,” he says.
“She’s my play-maker and she is a very dangerous player.”
EJ formed part of the highly successful FSC under 12s representative team that claimed the branch championship and narrowly missed the title in the Country Cup at Wagga Wagga.
And despite being just 12 she was named in the under 14s team to contest the Kanga Cup in Canberra, where she also showed ability in the midfield and at striker.
She also played striker for the local contingent in the recent Karl Posselt Cup in Merimbula, while through school she was invited to play for the under 15 girls team in AICES football cup as part of the Southern Anglican School Sports Association (SASSA) team.
The Futsal selection came after being recognised by selectors during the state titles and then being invited to trial in Sydney last month.
She will join the 10-girl-squad for the Country NSW side with team-mates from Wagga Wagga, Forbes and Nowra with the national futsal championships to be contested in Canberra in January.
And football isn’t the only area where EJ has been kicking goals, after she contested national cross country championships as well as top 10 results in the CIS swimming, cross country and athletics championships.
Mr Oesch said EJ and two other girls from the Far South Coast would take part in the Premier League next year and wished them all the best of success.
He said he was aiming to get more recognition for local players.
"It was always my goal to create a Matilda from the Far South Coast, and it may be EJ, you never know."