A women’s health initiative has given wings to seven Eurobodalla soccer players, who were selected to play in the 2019 National Indigenous Football Championships.
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Indigenous soccer side the Eurobodalla Black Swans has competed in the National Indigenous Football tournament, run by the Wreck Bay Sharks, for three years running.
“The first year, we thought it would be great to pull together a women’s team from the Eurobodalla,” organiser Jodie-Rose Cotter said.
By the second year, they were able to field an under 10’s team as well, and this year they had women’s, children’s and men’s teams.
Players from each division were selected for the Australia First Nations Mariya Squad, to play in the Trans-Tasman competition against New Zealand Maori in Wollongong, January 2019.
Four players were selected for the under 14s girls – Shayla and Kawananna Moreton-Stewart, Kaliyah Smith and Akasha Combo.
Being selected ... was a shock
- Nioka White
Josiah Brierley was selected for the under 14s boys, Nioka White for the open women’s, and Collin Walker for the open men’s.
All players selected said they were excited – and that working on fitness and ball skills would be a priority.
It was a particularly special moment for Ms White, who, at 18, had just returned to the sport.
“Being selected ... was a shock, and an exciting moment for me, as it was my first time playing in the competition,” Ms White said.
Ms White said she was pregnant for both the 2026 and 2017 competitions, and signed up for this year’s side when her daughter was just seven weeks old.
“I wanted to get back into my sports – we have all played since a very young age,” she said.
“We’re all very excited.”
