Mary Fowler touched by Instagram post from Papua New Guinea

Australian Mary Fowler has been blown away by the support she has received in the World Cup from a village in Papua New Guinea.

Mary Fowler and a screenshot of her Instagram post. Photos: Getty Images and Instagram

Mary Fowler’s star has continued to rise for the Matildas at the 2023 World Cup, but the 20-year-old could easily be wearing different colours.

Fowler has had a wild ride during Australia’s march to the semi-finals, first as a replacement for Sam Kerr in the starting line-up for the opening match against Ireland.

A training ground concussion then ruled Fowler out of the defeat to Nigeria, before the Cairns native returned and has since started all three matches against Canada, Denmark and France.

Fowler scored her debut World Cup goal in the 4-0 thrashing of the Canadians and then played the full 120 minutes and scored a decisive penalty in the thrilling quarter-final victory over the French.

Mary Fowler has starred for Australia during the march to the semi-finals. Photo: Lachie Millard

While she is an extremely proud Australian, Fowler also could have represented Ireland or Papua New Guinea due to her parents.

Her father Kevin Fowler was born in Ireland and two of her four siblings, Caoimhín and Ciara, represented Ireland in football at junior level.

Fowler’s mother Nido is from Kira Kira, a village in the PNG capital of Port Moresby where her parents first met.

Kira Kira has transformed into a Mary Fowler fan club during this World Cup, complete with a huge banner and live sites showing Matildas matches to hundreds of people.

Fowler has shown her respect and appreciation for the support she’s receiving from PNG in an Instagram post.

Fowler has started Australia’s last three matches after recovering from concussion. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images )

“Touches my heart...so proud to be Papuan,” she wrote. “Sending love to you all.”

The post featured six photos, including images of people watching the Australians in the World Cup and a tiny girl pointing up to the Mary Fowler sign in Kira Kira.

The sign says: “Kira Kira Village. The home of Koita Maiyago. Mary Boio Fowler.”

Boio is Fowler’s mother’s maiden name and Koita Maiyago has been widely reportedly as meaning “girl from our tribe”.

The Irish Football Association did its best to tempt Fowler to represent Ireland at senior level and the striker admits she did consider it.

“I think when you have the option to play for multiple nations, you do think about it because it’s a decision that will live with you for the rest of your career,” Fowler said in an interview with FIFA.com published in May.

“It’s smart, I think, to weigh up your options. So, yeah, there were moments when I thought about it.

“But I felt very strongly connected to Australia because it’s where I was born, I have my friends there, I grew up there. So Australia ended up being the obvious choice.

“But I do feel very connected to both my parents’ backgrounds, and I don’t see myself as just an Australian. I see myself as Papuan and Irish too.”

Fowler also said her wish was granted when the Matildas were drawn in the same group as Ireland.

FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 - Mary Fowler’s thank you message to family and friends in PNG. #australia#brisbane#fifawomensworldcup#matildas#maryfowler#koitamaiago#kirakira#mkheritage#pngheritagepic.twitter.com/Cuey1R00md

— Dadi Toka MBE (@daditoka) August 13, 2023

“I was really excited when that draw came out,” she said. “I was actually hoping we’d get Ireland.

“For me, it’s such a special opportunity because I do feel very connected to my Irish heritage, just as I do to my Papuan heritage.

“I know my family will be cheering for me and that my Irish family will be cheering for Ireland and me! Whoever wins, they’ll be happy.”

Fowler has also shown some of her personality on social media.

On an Instagram photo of her balancing a football on her head, Fowler added the caption: “My big forehead makes this easier.”

Fowler’s post about Kira Kira has been liked over 45,000 times and generated more than 400 comments, many of them from PNG people.

“Thank you for making PNG proud and putting PNG Nation into the world of Sport,” wrote Mila C Nash.

“More so, by inspiring the young PNG girls and boys to get into sports activity. More power and keep up being proud PNG. God bless.”

Another Instagram user said they had never been interested in football until now.

“The whole of PNG is proud of you,” wrote Kole Kupul. “This Rugby league tragic with no interest in soccer until now ..has in a few days become an expert on what a false 9 is. What an awesome role model for our young girls.”

Teammates Alanna Kennedy, Caitlin Foord, Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry - who all started alongside Fowler in the quarter-final against France - have also commented and showed their support for the young Aussie and her heritage.

Fowler has expressed interest in running some football clinics whenever she can return to Papua New Guinea.

Another of Matilda Mary Fowler’s Instagram pictures showing the support she’s receiving from Kira Kira in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Instagram @maryfowlerrr

“It’s definitely something that I am super interested in doing,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald last month.

“Obviously, there’s a whole timing thing that comes with that. But I always say, Papua New Guinea – I get so much love and support from people that I don’t even know.

“It’s just special to see how much they support me and how much they believe in me and look up to me.

“And I’m just like, I would love to just be able to give something back to all of you.

“If being able to do some football stuff that brings joy to some people there, then that would be amazing, because there’s just so many good people out there.

“I would love to be able to connect with my mum’s roots a lot more and spend time with her family over there as well.”