Daughter of Aurelio and Sarah Vidmar in state basketball squad

HER parents are former soccer and netball stars but Gabi Vidmar has become a state junior basketballer.

Gabriella Vidmar's parents are Socceroos assistant and former Australian/Adelaide United soccer player Aurelio Vidmar, and ex-Adelaide Thunderbird Sarah Vidmar - yet she is pursuing basketball and has made the state under-16 team. [PIC] Aurelio, Gabi & Sarah at their Lockleys home. pic by Bianca De Marchi - 15.5.15

HER parents are former soccer and netball stars but Gabi Vidmar has become a state junior basketballer.

The daughter of one-time Socceroos captain Aurelio Vidmar and ex-state netballer Sarah Vidmar, Gabi, 14, will represent SA at the national under-16 championships in Ulverstone, Tasmania, in July.

The Forestville forward, who also plays Junior 1 netball for Contax, followed her mum into hoops.

“Mum was playing social basketball with a group of friends and they needed more players in (Forestville’s) under-10s so I played,” Gabi says.

“I was pretty surprised (to make the state team) because I’m younger.

“I’m looking forward to it – it’ll be cold.”

Aurelio adds: “We’re proud of her.”

Gabi has grown up in an elite sporting family.

Sarah won three state-league premierships with Contax, represented SA at national level and now is a specialist coach at the SA Sports Institute.

Aurelio captained and coached Adelaide United, played overseas, was a Socceroos stalwart and has been inducted into Football Federation Australia’s Hall of Fame.

Gabi remembers attending her dad’s Adelaide United soccer games and the family watches the Socceroos, with whom Aurelio is an assistant, when they can.

These days much of the running around surrounds getting Gabi and her sister Jordi, 11, also a Forestville and Contax player, to their games.

“There’s something on every day,” Aurelio says.

“We just have to be organised and have to ask for a few favours every now and again,” Sarah adds.

“Forestville’s been fantastic and they have fantastic coaches.”

Gabi realises she may have to choose between the sports down the track but for now she is enjoying playing both.

“The sports are cross-complementary,” Sarah says.

“We’ve often said to the kids that every minute of basketball they play will make them a better netballer and every minute of netball they play will make them a better basketballer.”

Gabi does not have any long-term goals at this stage in the sports and simply wants to keep having fun.