TYLA Endemi is off to her second national championships in as many months this weekend as the soccer star begins to eye a future in the big leagues.
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The McCarthy student was recently part of the successful Northern NSW side at the U17 National Championships at the Australian Institute of Sport and will now take a step down in age to play with the NNSW U15 side as they head to Coffs Harbour for their national championships.
It is familiar territory for the local protege, who has been playing for the NNSW U15 side for the past five years, and is now a member of the Newcastle Emerging Jets squad.
In fact, the entire NNSW side is the Emerging Jets squad, giving Endemi plenty of confidence that she can come home with another major title under her belt, and perhaps impress selectors of the Australian Mini Matildas squad.
“Winning the U17s without losing a game gives me a lot of confidence heading into next week,” Endemi said.
“There are about five other girls from that side playing as well and we all play together for the Emerging Jets so the combinations are good.”
“I think we will win it.”
Endemi has been playing on both wings and enjoys the faster and more physical play at the higher levels like these championships and, with another year of experience to her name, is hoping to make a further impression at Coffs Harbour.
“The selectors will be there but usually look at the U17s more,” she said.
“I just want to keep playing well so they keep taking notice of me.”
The young star has big dreams, and has been kicking goals towards those dreams recently, although still has one foot on the ground as she plans her future.
“I want to play for Australia at the Olympics,” Endemi said.
“Maybe even at Tokyo (2020).”
In the meantime the flyer is aiming to play professionally in the United States although, despite already having offers to trial for US college programs and scholarships, wants to finish school in Australia first.
“It is becoming big in Australia but I would like to go to the USA to play.
“There are a lot of Aussie girls playing there.”
In the meantime the Northern Inland Football prodigy wants to keep playing and winning locally, beginning with another national title in Coffs Harbour next week,
Endemi went into camp at Newcastle yesterday, before heading to Coffs Harbour for five days of competition starting Monday.
In the Northern Inland Premier League this weekend in Tamworth, North Companions will host Inverell Joeys at Marius St, while Demon Knights will meet Tamworth FC at Gipps St.
In Armidale, Souths will have a derby with Easts at the Sportsground, while OVA will travel to Moree and North Armidale will head to Narrabri to play Namoi.
