16-year-old Samantha Emms with the Wanderers this season. Photo: Anthony Caffery photography. Insert: Westfield Matildas logo.
Harden’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Samantha Emms was recently part of a prestigious Young Matildas training camp in Sydney, brushing shoulders against 29 of the most talented female soccer players in the nation under the age of 20.
These players are pooled from Capital Football, Football NSW, Football Queensland, Football West, and Northern NSW Football in conjunction with Westfield W-League coaches, Member Federation staff and regional coaches.
The recent lockdown limited the selection of players from Victoria for this camp.
It was early in April when Emms was part of a group invited to have an elite trial match with the Young Matildas group which she played an impressive 70 minutes and had since then gone onto the next phase with a week-long training camp.
When she found out she had made the training camp, young Emms said she ecstatic.
“I was absolutely stoked. As a 16-year-old being successful in the election process for the u20 young Matildas training camp is an overwhelming achievement that brought about so much excitement as well as tears,” she said.
“Last week’s training camp was certainly the highest quality of football I’ve played in. Every player is as good as each other, which increased the quality, intensity and competition.”
During the week the squad participated in educational sessions that targeted nutrition and ways to look after themselves, ensuring they are all performing at elite level.
Training was twice a day with active recovery including stretching, rolling out and pool time after each session.
On Thursday, Sam was walked through set pieces for the match that was played later that afternoon.
The squad travelled to Sydney to stay in the provided accommodation at Valentines Sports Park where the camp was held.
Following that young Emms was rushed as she had to make it back home to Harden in time for her Debutane Ball Friday night, which she looked stunning.
In the 29-player squad there were a total of four goalkeepers and Samantha was the youngest amongst the mix.
They were Sally James (Blacktown Spartans FC) at 19, Miranda Templeman (Football NSW Institute) at 18, and Brianna Edwards (Northern Tigers FC) also 18.
For club, Samantha plays for the Wagga City Wanderers and is the first player from the club to ever achieve selection at a national level.
Wagga City Wanderers Women’s Program Head Coach Sam Grey reckons Samantha is one of the best young goalkeepers in the state, and that is a credit to her efforts.
“To be in the reckoning in one of the final training camps for the Young Matildas is fantastic,” he said.
“I think if she wants to take the next step, it is well within her grasp.”
Having been part of Sam’s footballing journey since a few years back with the Riverina team, coach Grey said young Emms should be taking all the credit.
“I am only one cog in the wheel and a lot of credit has to go to Sammy,” he said.
“Her work ethic has got her to where she is now. Her confidence and personal style of goalkeeping makes her different and a standout.
“I am absolutely happy and excited for her and I think this shows her what she can achieve when she aims for it.”
Outside of training for her side Wagga City Wanderers, Sam also trains with a goalkeeper coach and has previously worked with Chantel Jones in Canberra, a former professional goalkeeper and US Youth National Team Player.
“Most of the work Sammy does is away from the team. If we put it into perspective too, she’s still going through Year 12 at school and she’s doing all this extra training to improve her football.”
Following last week’s camp led by Westfield Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney, these players have all been identified as potential players to help continue the Young Matildas’ campaign towards the 2022 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup.
The Young Matildas are set to commence their qualification campaign from August 14-22 and training camps such as last week provides coaches some understanding of who they would like to take.
At the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Asian Cup, the Young Matildas finished fourth going down 9-1 to South Korea in the third place play-off.
The closest they have ever come was in 2006 finishing third. 2022 will be the first time the competition’s age limit will be raised to 20 with the competition serving as a qualifier for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Christopher Tan
