When she started playing soccer at 13, Ana Leonedas, now 26, was inspired to do so by the Australian male team's performance at the 2006 World Cup.
"At that age I remember there being a bit of an influx at my club after the Socceroos did well … seeing a national team go well was huge."
Ana Leonedas (centre) and Ili Jakab (rear, second from right) will be among those cheering on the Matildas at a Melbourne University Soccer Club event on Sunday evening.Credit:Luis Ascui
The Socceroos fell at the hands of Italy in the round-of-16 clash in 2006.
On Sunday night, the world's sixth-ranked women's team, Australia's Matildas, will get their 2019 World Cup campaign under way against the same nation, hoping to inspire a new generation of young players.–
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Leonedas will be one of hundreds of Melbourne University soccer club players and guests gathering when a university lecture theatre is converted into a Matildas fan club for Australia's match against 15th-ranked Italy in Valenciennes at 9pm (AEST).
She, along with Ili Jakab, 26, are two of more than 120 female players at Melbourne University this year – a playing group that's grown by about 50 per cent since the previous Women's World Cup.
"I always wanted to be really good, but I always thought, 'I'll play for the Melbourne Victory men's team' or that sort of thing," said Jakab.
"Now, to have female role models there and you can actually get paid to play, it's the dream."
Leonedas said the level of soccer knowledge in her team had noticeably increased in the past few years, where "everyone has their favourite players – and they're women".
"I think the fact theres so many people watching the World Cup and so many people behind the Matildas is a huge goal in itself," she said.
Captain my captain: Australia is hoping gun striker Sam Kerr hits the ground running.Credit:AAP
"I dont know if it matters that much where we end up, but if we can get a whole lecture theatre full of people tomorrow cheering them on then it just goes to show how far weve come."
Melbourne University Soccer Club has organised drinks and food – Italian cuisine, in keeping with the theme of the match – and is hoping to use the World Cup as a chance to get more females involved in the club, starting with a World Cup-themed tournament over the winter.
Football Federation Victoria has a 50:50 gender participation goal by 2027, and is accepting bids from Melbourne councils to build an $80 million home of women's football.
Alamein Football Club, a female-only team based in Melbourne's east, was established in 2015 as part of Victoria's new semi-professional Women's Premier League competition.
Like many male and female clubs in Victoria, club vice-president Steve Kotsiras said Alamein would host a women's soccer double-header on Sunday with a viewing eRead More – Source
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