Wini wows us with Matilda's debut
Local Soccer Sensation
THE sun has not yet risen over the horizon in Copenhagen and Australia’s latest international soccer debutante is preparing to head off to a 7am training session for her club side Nordsjaelland in the Danish Women’s League.
It is a long way from the global stage of the world game to the small town of Julatten in Far North Queensland, but Winonah “Wini” Heatley has used every part of her laser-sharp focus to get where she is today.
She is still floating on air after coming on in the second half to help the Matildas defeat footballing powerhouse Germany for the first time in 19 years, 2-1, in a friendly game on German soil.
“It’s a moment I’ve been dreaming of my entire life,” the 23-year-old says of her long-awaited debut.
She says her strongest memory from the game was the joy of winning after having to defend heavily in the final stages of the game.
“The final whistle went and the girls came up to me and gave me a big hug,” she says of the support she received from the rest of the Australian squad on her debut.
Heatley has had a few false starts, having spent previous international games sitting on the bench without stepping on the pitch, as well as playing for Australia in matches that do not qualify as recognised international fixtures.
Her story is an inspiration for every young child with a big dream - Heatley was focused on playing for her country ever since the time she first pulled on the boots at age five.
“This is what I really wanted to do,” she says.
But coming from a remote region of the country poses a host of challenges.
“Growing up around Port Douglas, there was really no visibility for what an athlete’s career would look like,” she says.
“It was all new to me.”
During her early teens Heatley relied on her parents driving her about three times a week to Cairns.
Then, at age 15, she moved to Brisbane to join the Roar’s junior program, where she was billetted out to another supportive family.
It took four years to make her senior debut for the Roar, while she has now had two stints in Europe and a year playing for Melbourne City.
Heatley has been doing a crash course in the Danish language, but is also grateful New Zealand international player Malia Steinmetz is at the club.
She is also hoping to get some more game time in four forthcoming internationals to be played in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast against Brazil on November 28 and December 1, and in Melbourne and Geelong against Chinese Taipei on December 4 and 7.
Heatley will then take a well-earned break for about a month at her Douglas Shire family home.
“I’m just going to chill,” she says.
“I will spend some time with the family.”
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