By ADEM SARICAOGLU
WESTERN Wolves soccer star Whitney Knight is one talented young sportswoman.
Originally from Queensland, the 12-year-old striker from the Keilor Park Soccer Club has been part of the Western Wolves squad and recently competed in the Victorian Champions League.
Knight’s VCL form was impressive, scoring in every game she played to gain recognition in the VCL Girl’s All Star Squad.
“I went into it thinking that I wasn’t really going to get selected and then when I was selected I was surprised,” Knight said.
“I tried out last year but I didn’t make it – and then this year I thought it was a great improvement to make the team, and also being the top scorer I thought was a good achievement as well.”
The keen athlete began her sporting exploits with Aussie Rules, but took the advice of her mother to pursue something that would provide greater career opportunities in the future.
That’s when soccer came knocking.
“I tried soccer and I turned out to be fairly good at it,” she said.
“I started it when I was eight, started under-8s, went to under-11s and then from there state teams and the VCL team.”
Her talent with the round ball was quickly recognised by those in the know, and by the time she was just eight she was already training with Queensland’s under-13s state team, but was too young to get selected into the squad.
Now a Melbournian, Knight’s had many opportunities to shine since.
“I moved here and then I made the under-13s state team from the VCL and the under-12 girls’ schools state team,” she said.
Knight says soccer is the greatest sport in the world and hopes to one day travel the world playing it at the highest level.
“I want to start off in the W-League and then I want to be scouted either to Japan or America, go play overseas and play for the Matildas as a striker.”
