Gold Coast United goalkeeper Cassandra Zaffina and former teammate Meg McElligott join Canberra United for W-League

GOLD Coast United remain hopeful of having goalkeeper Cassandra Zaffina available for the 2019 NPL Women’s, despite being picked up by W-League outfit Canberra United.

GOLD Coast United remain hopeful of having goalkeeper Cassandra Zaffina available for the 2019 NPL Women’s, despite being picked up by W-League outfit Canberra United.

Recruited by United from South Melbourne halfway through the NPLW season, Zaffina was yesterday announced as Canberra’s newest signing to provide back-up for fellow ‘keepers Shamiran Khamis and Melissa Maizels.

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United hope Zaffina can return to the club when the W-League season finishes in mid-February.

Striker Meg McElligott, who spent the first half of the season with Gold Coast before switching to Moreton Bay, has also signed with Canberra.

Gold Coast United's Cassandra Zaffina.

Zaffina and McElligott, who scored 50 NPLW goals this year, both spent time trialling with the W-League club in recent weeks.

“I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to play for Gold Coast United and be offered the chance to trial with Canberra. I felt like I needed a change in my life and everyone on the Coast was really welcoming,” Zaffina said.

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A former attacker, Zaffina fell into goalkeeping two years ago when she was told a medical condition would stop her from playing.

“I then found a way to still play and that was as goalie. The road towards the W-League has been a tough one for me. I’ve worked incredibly hard and had plenty of setbacks along the way.”