Victoria’s under-13s girls take out third place at Australian titles
A Wheelers Hill girl who took up futsal just last year was rewarded with the chance to play a starring role in a state team at the national titles last month. Here’s how it all went down.
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A Wheelers Hill girl’s snap decision to take up indoor soccer just last year paid dividends when she helped Victoria to a podium finish at the national futsal championships.
Allegra Angel had only recently transferred from the outdoor version of the code when she impressed state selectors at trials last August.
The 11-year-old was chosen to represent her state’s under-13 girls’ team for the national carnival in Canberra.
The team enjoyed a stellar run throughout the series, eventually making it to the semi-finals.
Allegra has juggled a busy schedule studying at St Justin’s Primary School, and playing and training with her cousin Cleo Angel, who is from Cheltenham who was also chosen for the national carnival, at local club the Bayside Pirates.
Allegra’s mum Sandra Angel said it was only the third time the Victorian under-13 girls’ team had made it to a national futsal championships semi-final.
“There were nine teams in this age group with New South Wales fielding five teams. Victoria had good wins against NSW Country, ACT, Queensland, and narrow losses to NSW metro teams,” she said.
“Allegra played well, started in all the games and played tough against stronger and older girls.”
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Ms Angel said parents were grateful to state team organisers for monitoring the girls’ health in hazy conditions.
“Football Victoria looked after all their players in Canberra with respiratory testing twice a day because of air quality issues. Victoria were the only state squad to do this,” she said.