By ADEM SARICAOGLU
RISING soccer star Georgia Evgeniadis admits to being nervous about playing for her country – but it’s not Australia.
The 16-year-old from St Albans is now standing by for her call-up to the Greek under-17 national team after she caught the eye of coach Vangelis Koutsakis.
“I’m just really nervous about versing the other teams, like Germany and all those kinds of teams,” Evgeniadis said.
“I’m really not sure how they play because it’s different to the way we play here in Australia.
“It’s new to me and I think I just want to get the first game over with so I can just get into it and let my nerves die down a bit and see what it’s like.”
As part of Cairnlea’s Women’s Premier League team, Evgeniadis is no stranger to a high standard of soccer.
Cairnlea coach Jamie Monteith has seen first-hand just how valuable Evgeniadis can be on the pitch, labelling her one of his side’s “unsung heroes” during the 2013 WPL season.
“Throughout the season Georgia was a rock and one of the unsung heroes because we had quite a few nasty injuries and we’ve had to put her in centre back and right back,” Monteith said.
“So she hasn’t really had that clear run in her preferred position, which is left back, but I personally feel that’s why she’s been called up to the national team.”
Monteith believes it’s her selflessness and leadership qualities that will take Evgeniadis a long way in the future.
“The reason why she will be successful is because she is a massive team player,” he said.
“She understands that sometimes things are going to get asked of you that maybe you don’t want to do or you don’t agree with, but you have to do it for the better of the team, and she’s definitely got that.
“I can see Georgia in the years to come – whatever team she finds herself at and as she gets that experience – definitely being a leader and being a captain because she’s very vocal in a positive way.
“But she also conducts herself in a very positive way, too.”
