Townsville’s Kheeley Barnett and Lara Malcolm play futsal for Australia in Bacelona
Two Townsville twelve-year-old best friends are off to Barcelona at to play futsal for Australia.
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Two Townsville twelve-year-old best friends are off to Barcelona at to play futsal for Australia – and both aspire to one day play for the Matildas on the international stage.
Kheeley Barnett and Lara Malcolm are part of the Australian Under 13 team and were initially selected from the Townsville School Futsal Titles to play for North Queensland in the September 2024 competition in Brisbane where they competed in both the U11 and U13 age groups.
The pair were spotted by a national scout and are now winging their way to the play eight games in an international tournament in the Spanish coastal city.
Kheeley’s mum Jenna Earl said the two girls had been training tirelessly with their Townsville club Northern Pulse in the lead up to the international tournament.
“They are both incredibly excited about the opportunity to play in Barcelona and are eager to represent their country with pride,” she said.
Kheeley only took up futsal mid last year but has played soccer since she was six and said she was excited to playing futsal with her best friend for Australia and hoped it would be a stepping stone to one day playing for the Matildas as part of the national women’s soccer team.
“It’s a big experience, and I feel like it’s going to open a lot of new things for me,” she said.
“I think it’ll be good to see how other people play and learn new things from it.”
Her friend Laura was equally excited having only taken up soccer and futsal two years ago and also wanted to one day play for the Matildas.
“We’re both really excited to be representing our nation and hopefully win,” she said.
Originally published as Townsville’s Kheeley Barnett and Lara Malcolm play futsal for Australia in Bacelona
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