AZHIA Claridge’s debut season in the National Premier Leagues with South Melbourne has left the 14-year-old clamouring for more in 2018.
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The rising Bendigo soccer star will be part of the leadership group in South’s under-16 team when the NPL season kicks-off in February.
It follows a promising first season in 2017, which included 27 matches in the club’s under-14 team and a handful of appearances for the under-18 side.
“It’s nice being welcomed back as a starting player,” Claridge said.
“My first year at South Melbourne was challenging, but exciting as I had never done something like that before.
“It definitely opened my eyes to the standards of playing and what’s expected at a higher level.”
Claridge said her first season in the NPL was not without its demands, particularly travel.
“It was pretty tiring at times,” she said.
“Pre-season was Tuesday and Thursday and during the season it was Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.”
The young central defender was grateful for the sacrifices made by her parents and grandparents in driving her to Melbourne for training and on game-days.
Arguably the highlight of her first season with South was stepping up to play against older and more experienced players in the under-18s.
It was not exactly a foreign concept for Claridge, who played two seasons of Bendigo Amateur Soccer League senior women’s football for Eaglehawk as a 12 and 13-year-old.
She was a member of the Hawks’ 2015 championship winning side.
That team also captured the league cup and finished the season with an unbeaten record.
Claridge said she relished the challenge of pitting her skills against older players – not that playing against the cream of Victoria’s soccer talent her own age did not pose its own difficulties.
Soccer is in the blood for Claridge. Her father Nathan played college ball on scholarship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was a former Bendigo City FC and BASL club coach; her mother Kirsty played state league soccer in Melbourne; while her aunt Amy Skvarc was a former Women’s National League star and one of the BASL’s greatest all-time players.
Claridge said her focus in 2018 was firmly on team and championship success.
“We missed out last season by just one game, but hopefully we can get into the grand final with this new team – and a new coach - and pull out the win,” she said.
