Mary Fowler’s success with the Matildas is inspiring children all over PNG
Mary Fowler is inspiring more than just young Australian football fans. Her deep links with PNG and the nations pride in her fame show she is changing their way of life too.
World Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from World Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Matildas-mania is alive and well in Australia as they prepare for their do-or-die World Cup clash with Denmark but 2,746km away in a small village in Papua New Guinea, Fowler-fever has taken over.
Just within Port Moresby sits Kira Kira village. It was the birthplace of Matildas star Mary Fowler’s mother Nido and where she met the striker’s father Kevin before they relocated to Australia and had their five children.
Now, Kira Kira is a sea of green and gold. Everywhere you look are reminders that this unassuming town represents a huge part of Fowler’s heritage, and they could not be prouder.
Since she came off the bench to score in Australia’s warm-up clash with France and news of Sam Kerr’s calf injury broke, Fowler has become a central figure in the Matildas campaign.
A huge banner draped over a village street says: “Kira Kira Village, the home of Koita Maiyago” – which translates as “girl from our tribe”. Below it is her full name, Mary Boio Fowler. Mary is also her paternal grandmother from Ireland and Boio is from her maternal side.
Her uncle, Rabura Geita, speaks of the entire village’s pride in Mary, citing the Group B opener against Ireland as special for the Geita family as well as the Badira Vamaga Toneta (Mary’s clan) of Kira Kira village.
“Our village is mainly big followers of volleyball and cricket sports,” Geita said. “Because of Mary we are now switching our focus to soccer.
“Our small grandchildren cried for us to go and buy soccer balls just because of the impact of Mary as well as buying yellow and green shirts. The impact of her playing is hitting PNG and Kira Kira village.
“When she is playing, you will see everyone putting their TV screen out on the veranda or yard and support. You will hear such cheer during State of Origin but this time is soccer… when she was substituted, all of us felt down.
“As her uncle I am so proud that Mary is playing for the Australian women’s football team…I was really mad when she was not given a lot of the passes.
“We do pray to God to guide, strengthen and enable her to play well.”
The village has united to cheer Fowler during every match of the World Cup and it will be no different for Denmark tonight – hopefully without the malfunctions they have encountered so far.
“The TV signal was a bit scrambled for about 30 minutes… we were really pissed off so we went over to our village chairman’s house and watch the match,” Geita said.
“When she was substituted, I told everyone switch off the TV and we watch the Pilipino drama series.
FOWLER HERITAGE
It was back in the 1990s that Mary’s parents tied the knot at the Kila Kila United Church.
Mary and her four siblings were all given village names. Caomhin/Quiv (Geita), Ciara (Negea), Mary (Boio), Louise (Garia) and Seamus (Rabura).
“Mary is named after her grandmother, Boi Nigani. Myself and Nido (Mary’s mum) our other siblings include Negea Geita, Nigani Geita who is adopted by one of our aunties including other adopted siblings,” Geita explained.
“The last time the family visited us was back in 2010 and Mary was like seven or eight years old. They were here only during the Christmas holiday.
“We recently WhatsApped her mum and exchanged pictures. We were really excited. The community advised Motu Koita and they came up with a banner.
“One of the ladies in our village reached out to Motu Koita assembly chairman Dadi Toka Junior and they brought in food packs as well as getting the T-shirts ready and gathered at the village meeting area.”
INSPIRING A GENERATION
Negea Geita, Mary’s aunt, is also proud of her niece’s success in football and hopes that other young girls can learn and be inspired.
“Soccer is not really our most followed sport in the village but just by seeing Mary’s success, we would encourage other young girls to take up sports,” she said.
“There are different areas to go out there and make our family name.
“After the match or the World Cup they might come…we will give them a grand entry welcome.”
Ahead of the Matildas match against Denmark tonight, the Geita family have also offered their message of well wishes to Mary and the team.
“She already has the talent and we believe in God’s help. Our advice to Mary is that; Zechariah 4: 6 (bible verse), It is not by might and not by power…it is not what we know or what we can do but through God’s help that we can do anything and everything. Put God first and whatever you want, God will do it.”
“Go team Australia, go Matildas and all the best…you are all heroes.”
Words written and photographs provided by the Post Courier team
More Coverage
Originally published as Mary Fowler’s success with the Matildas is inspiring children all over PNG
Slater: Socceroos’ ‘huge problem’ – and how they can fix it
After back-to-back losses against teams the Socceroos must be beating, their main problem has come clear to ROBBIE SLATER, he reveals what it is and the ‘wildcard’ that could be the answer on the road to 2026.
Socceroos road to 2026 World Cup set to get even harder
Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus says he only expects qualifying for this and future World Cups to get harder as more and more Asian countries invest more into national football teams.