If Australia wins the right to host soccer’s World Cup in 2018 (and it seems the game’s governing body, Football Federation Australia, is going to put in a strong bid), could 14-year-old Jacob Collard be out there wearing the green and gold as a representative for his country?
11 January 2010
Certainly, his grandmother – Derbarl Yerrigan Stolen Generation case worker Georgina Drayton – thinks so.
“He is an exceptional player,” says a proud Georgina, whose view is echoed by a number of the leading lights in Perth’s soccer scene, who have followed Jacob’s progress over the past 10 years.
“He first started kicking a ball around when he was four years old,” said Georgina, “and soon afterwards he joined Gosnells Soccer Club.
“Word got around pretty quickly that he was a talent to watch and the following year he received a visit from former Perth Glory coach Bernd Stange (now coach of Iraq), who gave him some tips and a certificate.”
In his final year at South Thornlie Primary School, Jacob won a scholarship to Lynwood Senior High School, which has a soccer development program, and he was also recruited by Perth Italia, where he played for three years, the last two as captain.”
In the past two years, Jacob, who plays in the centre of the midfield, has represented Lynwood at a tournament in Singapore and he was selected for the state team that competed in the inaugural Indigenous Football Festival in Townsville.
Recently, he won a place at the National Training Centre and is now in pre-season training for the new season which starts in April.
His next objective is to try for a place at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra and the national under-15 Joeys squad.
After that it could be selection for an A League side like Perth Glory, which would see him realise his dream of becoming a professional soccer player – and after that, the ultimate step, the Socceroos.
“Playing for Australia in the World Cup or the Olympics … that would be just fantastic,” said Jacob, who follows Manchester United in the English Premiership League and rates Argentinian Lionel Messi of Barcelona as one of his heroes.
“It is wonderful to see how dedicated Jacob is to his sport,” said Georgina, “and to see him representing his country one day … wow, wouldn’t that be something!”
Story and photograph courtesy of Adrian Kenyon, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.
