Breaking barriers: Two Indigenous rising stars secure soccer scholarships

John Moriarty Football’s recent JMF National Talent Showcase unearthed 26 of the country’s most promising young female and male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soccer players aged between 12 and 16 years.

Yasmin Wyld-Hill from Cairns, Qld and Matthew Wunsch from Pagewood, NSW have been awarded 12-month JMF Scholarships.

Designed to bridge the gap between grassroots play and the world of elite football, JMF Scholarships offer a life-changing pathway for talented young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players.

Yasmin and Matthew, both 15, will receive wrap-around personalised support, world-class technical and game development as well as mentoring and financial aid to cover club fees, travel and education.

Barriers still remain

Australia’s first Aboriginal soccer player to be selected for Australia and JMF’s co-founder, John Moriarty, says in the 60 years since he retired, the barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players to reach the elite levels of the game remain.

“The pipeline for Indigenous talent within the football ecosystem just doesn’t exist, it’s never been created. Other codes show us that Indigenous athletes are extraordinary. They are playmakers. They never just make up the numbers,” he said.

“The NRL and AFL show us that the right strategic and support framework can bring down the barriers, of which there are many, and the game is better for it.”

JMF wants to see more Indigenous players follow in John’s footsteps.

“I would love to see the community join JMF in doing the heavy lifting and bring a new generation of fresh, exciting Indigenous talent into Australian professional soccer,” he said.

Former Chelsea FC Academy Director and JMF Program Manager Jen Wicks said Yasmin and Matthew had the potential to pursue a professional career, and with additional support have the opportunity to take their game to another level.

“These are two incredibly exciting players. I’m thrilled to welcome them to the JMF Scholarship program. The JMF team looks forward to working with them, mentoring them and potentially playing a part in their journey to elite soccer,” she said.

“Yasmin is a dynamic player, quick thinking with an eye for the goal. She is also showing the mental and emotional strength a player needs to succeed in building a professional career. Matthew is hard-working with impressive raw pace and agility. He’s a natural leader and has a strong desire to be a role model for his community.”

Former A-Leagues player and JMF Ambassador and Scholarships Coordinator, Allira Toby (Kanolu/Gangulu), understands firsthand the barriers Indigenous players face to be involved with the game.

“Growing up my family didn’t have much and they sacrificed a lot so that I could play, and sadly my story is not uncommon,” she said.

Pathways to opportunities

“We see plenty of super talented young players who are locked out of the game; maybe it’s because of affordability or it’s because where they live there is no ecosystem and they need to travel great distances to play competitively.”

“This is why initiatives like the JMF National Talent Showcase and JMF’s Scholarship Program are so important. They remove the barriers and create pathways to opportunities that may have seemed impossible before.”

Yasmin  (Waluwarra/Yirandali) and Matthew  (Gumbaynggirr/Bidjigal) said they were looking forward to the opportunities the JMF Scholarship program could provide.

“Being awarded a JMF scholarship was a big surprise! I was really lucky to play with so many talented players at the JMF National Talent Showcase. I feel very grateful for JMF’s support and am excited for the opportunity,” Yasmin said.

Award-winning program

“I am very fortunate to receive this scholarship and represent John Moriarty Football. I will embrace this opportunity with pride and look forward to representing JMF, culture and Country,” Matthew said.

JMF is an award-winning program that uses soccer to positively engage over 3,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth aged 2 to 18 years of age annually, with groundbreaking impacts on health, education and wellbeing. JMF delivers to 16 communities and 14 public schools in NT, NSW and Qld.