Sport
18 March, 2022
TALENTED FNQ INDIGENOUS GIRL recipient of soccer program scholarship
Jamie Gosling Football Academy (JFGA) announced the latest recipient of Far North Queensland’s first soccer scholarship program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The 12-month scholarships are valued at $1,000 each and see local Indigenous footballers aged 6 to 14 years offered free elite coaching and mentoring at the region’s number one soccer academy.
The program, which is celebrating its fifth year, has already seen 11 Indigenous children successfully complete the scholarships, based at Holloways Beach Sporting Complex.
One of the previous scholarship recipients – Julianna-Bree Talbot- Cooke – has had an incredible start to her 2022 season, having played for the Australian Indigenous Koalas football team and moving to Brisbane to play for the Under 23 Peninsula Power NPL side.
This year, the chosen player from 18 applicants was 11-year-old Ella Buie, sponsored by Roy and Vandama Jindal from Cairns Dental Boutique.
JGFA Director of Football Jamie Gosling said Cairns Dental Boutique has been kind enough to sponsor the program this year, giving Ella the chance to learn and improve at the Academy for the year.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity for junior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander football players in the Cairns region,” Mr Gosling said.
“We’ve already seen this year a significant improvement in Ella’s play and confidence.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Dr Roy and Vandama at Cairns Dental Boutique (Edge Hill) for coming on board as program sponsors and helping to make it happen for amazing kids like Ella.
“We’re also hoping to attract extra sponsors next year, so we can provide more Indigenous players with the chance to train and play at a higher level.
“When I’m at Endeavour Park on a Saturday watching junior games, I always notice how many talented Indigenous players I see playing football.
“Often, these children are not offered the same development opportunities other children are through academy programs such as JGFA.
“JGFA’s mission is to develop these young players with extra specialist coaching for the ultimate benefit of their local clubs and FNQ football in general.
“We want to develop them as individuals and ultimately strengthen junior soccer in the region.
“Through this exciting scholarship program, we can offer soccer-mad Indigenous children the chance to develop their game like never before.
“We will be looking to expand the program in the coming years,” he said. Parents, guardians, coaches, and community members are encouraged to send in applications for interested children for its 2022 program.
For further information about the JGFA Indigenous Scholarship Program, visit: www.jgfa.com.au/indigenous, email info@jgfa.com.au or call Mr Gosling on 0450 181 626.
