Endeavour Hills soccer star Kate Leder is looking forward to playing her first game for Football Federation Victoria’s National Training Centre on Sunday.By Marc McGowan
WHEN Football Federation Victoria established the National Training Centre (NTC) in 2000, Endeavour Hills teenager Kate Leder had not even kicked a soccer ball.
But fast forward to this year and the promising 13-year-old is one of 20 female athletes in the burgeoning academy.
Kate’s soccer journey began six years ago with Berwick City – the same club her 20-year-old brother Jason played for and her 16-year-old cousin Anthony Sidilia still represents.
“I just think it’s a good team sport and it’s fun,” the right back, right midfielder said.
“I was surprised when I got into the N.T.C, but I was proud – I was hoping I would.”
There have been several highlights along the way, including state representation at under-13 and under-14 level.
Kate spent a season at the Casey Comets last year, but will suit up for the NTC in the Under-13 Boys’ South Eastern Super League in 2008.
The NTC’s season kicks off at 11.15am on Sunday against the Bulleen Lions at the Veneto Club.
Later in the year, Kate – who is joined in the side by fellow former Casey Comets Alex Gummer and Briana Davey – will face Berwick City.
“We’ve played a few games in the pre-season and done well, so it should be good,” the year-eight Rowville Secondary College student said.
Besides battling it out on the pitch against the opposite sex, Kate travels to Darebin International Sports Centre four times a week for training.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit tiring (combining her training with school), but you just get through it,” she said.
“I like it because they challenge you and it’s a better standard of coaching.
“They tell us to keep training hard and to set little goals to get to that big goal (of playing for Australia).”
The next major goal for Kate, who believes her pace and competitiveness are her strengths, is making the cut for the Victorian under-15 squad.
“The trials are later in the year,” she said.
“The national championships are really good and they are a much higher standard, especially in New South Wales and Queensland.”
Kate’s mother Marita is extremely proud of her talented daughter.
“She trains very hard to achieve what she does,” Marita said.
“Her father’s side of the family is very sports-minded and can pick up a bat and ball and do what they need to – it just comes naturally.”
Marita is not Kate’s only fan, with NTC head coach Matthew Shepherd also full of praise for her.
“Kate’s an aggressive right-sided defender or midfielder, who’s very good in one on ones,” he said.
“She’s in the younger part of our program in terms of demographic – she’s 13 against 15, 16, 17-year-old girls and holding her own.
“It’s great to see. She has a lot of potential for the future.”
