GOAL MACHINE ZAHRA ON FIRE
1 June , 2022 By Football NSW
Maddison ‘Maddy’ Zahra has taken the #NPLWNSW competition by storm this season, scoring some of the most memorable goals of the season already.
Her goal two weeks ago earnt her the NPL NSW Goal of The Week tag with an incredible strike from range. At Cromer Park they say the cross bar is still shaking following her thunderbolt.
‘Magic Maddy’ as she is known around Manly only broke into the first team this season, in her jubilee 10th season at the club, playing in the reserves for the majority of her senior career
“This is my 10th year playing at Manly and I’ve been in the senior squad playing Reserves since 2016. I’ve been a bit of a perennial reserve grader, and for a while it seemed like that’s probably as far as I’d go as I wasn’t really getting any opportunities. I’m super grateful to have gotten the opportunity this year to step up into first grade.
With one of the best female youth systems in the country which Zahra was bled through, she points to Sharon Egger as a leader in the women’s game.
“Sharon Egger is a pioneer of women’s football in NSW and the program she has built, beginning with the Girls SAP and development squad programs and going through into our youth league program gives players all the opportunities and tools they need to succeed at any level of football they aspire to,” Zahra said.
“The club has always prided itself on developing players from within to progress into the senior squad and beyond, and this is evident in that the first-grade squad is consistently made up of players that came through the SAP and youth league programs.”
Zahra, once a student, now a teacher, is also involved in the girls youth program at Manly United.
“I love coaching and working with the girls to help them be the best footballers, and people they can be, not to mention coaching has made a massive difference to myself as a footballer and my understanding of the game. Coaching in the SAP program and the U14s, for me it’s about getting to know the girls and working with them to achieve their own personal goals,” Maddy said.
“Every player is different, and so providing a platform for them to succeed at any level they choose to pursue, and youth development in general is something that I’m super passionate about.”
The self-proclaimed “Perennial Reserves” player has taken the opportunity of first-grade football with both hands in 2022 and puts it down to dedication and hard work.
“I think just consistent hard work, especially since the start of lockdown last year where I made a concerted effort to improve aspects of my game, finishing being one aspect. However, to be honest, I think because of how long it’s taken me to get an opportunity in first grade, I’m just absolutely loving the opportunity so am just trying to enjoy challenging myself against some amazing players and play with confidence, knowing how hard I’ve worked to get there,” said Zahra.
Manly United weren’t anyone’s top tips for this season but have begun their 2022 campaign well, suffering only their first defeat of the season on Sunday.
“We’re very much a collective and have a really good squad culture this year. The core of the squad are Manly juniors and have played together for a really long time, so we know each other really well and love playing together,” Zahra said.
“We back ourselves to beat any team in the competition, and at the moment are just focussing on ourselves and trying to improve with each week and game.”
For ‘Magic Maddy’, her aim is to keep scoring bombs and stay within the first team scene for the remainder of the campaign.
“The main thing for me is to get consistent minutes in first grade, try to keep improving in my performances every week, and hopefully score a few more goals as well!”
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder
