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Young African takes Joondalup Youth Girls Best and Fairest!

Friday, September 18, 2015 - 11:47 AM

Scovia Anzoa has had an amazing 2015. Having made her AFL debut in 2013 for the Butler Falcons, an all-girls African AFL Team based in Butler, she went on to captain the side in 2014. This year, she made her debut for the Joondalup Falcons, as part of the transition program set up to encourage girls from multicultural backgrounds into the female AFL pathway. She also became Head Coach of the Butler Young Falcons and made the second round of the WA State Under 16s trials, all at age 13. Recently, Scovia celebrated her 14th birthday and capped off her season with the Joondalup Falcons by being awarded the Fairest and Best Honours, making her the first female South Sudanese female player to take the award at any level in WA.

On winning the award, Scovia was humble “I didn’t know that I was capable of winning the club Fairest and Best, so I was quite surprised but very happy. It made me want to push even harder and make sure that the other girls that come through the Butler Falcons into the Joondalup Falcons can reach their full potential.” On her ambitions for the future, Scovia said “I am pushing really hard for AFL 2020, all the Butler and Joondalup Falconsare. That is a big theme of both teams.”

Coach of the Joondalup Falcons Youth Girls Team, Christine Leonard, said “Scovia has demonstrated the ability to play in a variety of positions, which makes her a very versatile and dangerous player. The fact that she is only 14 means the sky’s the limitin where she could end up in women’s football in the future.”

Jan Cooper, the AFL Female Development Manager, was inspired by Scovia’s achievement. “What a great role model and inspiration for all girls. Scovia’s winning the Club’s award is extremely encouraging for all girls new to AFL but particularly those born in a non-traditional AFL country! It shows they can successfully make the transition from the Butler Falcons to community football clubs. I hope Scovia keeps working hard and look forward to seeing her take part in the National Women’s League, if that is her dream.”

The Butler Falcons is coordinated by the Edmund Rice Centre Mirrabooka and supported by the West Australian Football Commission, West Perth District, the City of Wanneroo, the Joondalup Falcons Women’s Football Club, Edith Cowan University and Fair Game. When the girls turn 13 years old, they are encouraged to play for the Joondalup Women’s Football Clubs Youth Girls Team, as part of a structured mainstream femaleAFL pathway.