13-year-old Mia Mallet ready for international futsal opportunity

Being selected to represent Queensland overseas came as a ‘surprise’ for one rising futsal talent but not to one special teacher who would give her a nudge in the right direction.

Futsal star Mia Mallett will leave the country for the first time this September to represent Queensland as part of the under 14 girls elite team in Fiji. Picture: Mitchell Dyer

Rising young futsal star Mia Mallett will represent Queensland in Fiji later this year but it was only thanks to a wise teacher she ever honed her skills with a soccer ball.

The 13-year-old Mackay sporting fanatic first picked up a soccer ball when she was eight but she later switched to basketball.

Mia said her Year 7 teacher, Mr Fraser, convinced her to give futsal another try and from there, a passion was ignited.

“He was the one who encouraged me to go to the Whitsunday Gala,” Mia said.

Mia Mallett in action at the recent Whitsunday region competition which lead to her selection for the Fijian competition

It was at the 2022 gala held in Sarina where Mallett caught the eyes of selectors with her defensive ability and earned herself a spot in the Queensland U14 girls elite team.

“We were really surprised,” Mia’s mum Natasha Waugh said.

“We got an email when she was at school and I just had to call her right away.”

The pair are now excitedly preparing for their first trip to Fiji; for Mia, it is her first venture overseas.

Futsal star Mia Mallett will leave the country for the first time this September to represent Queensland as a part of the under 14 girls elite team in Fiji

But the trip comes at a large financial expense with Mia and her supporters rolling up their sleeves to get across the line.

“We’re doing Bunnings sausage sizzles and a Krispy Kreme fundraiser,” Miss Waugh said.

The family has also launched a GoFundMe to help reach a $10,000 funding goal with corporate sponsors most welcome to come on board to support the homegrown talent.