When Macarthur local, Alanna Kennedy, was selected to represent Australian in the Women's Under 16s Football (Soccer) Team it was a great achievement. When you learn that Alanna is only 13 years old, you realise how gifted a sports person she really is.

Alanna first put on a pair of football boots when she was only 5 years old playing for the Campbelltown Cobras Soccer club, then at age 10 she was selected to play for the Macarthur Rams Women's under 12's team, captaining this team to premiership honours in the 2007 Women's Premier League competition. Over the past 2 years she was also selected in the NSW Women's metropolitan representative team, and also captained this team in 2008.

Recently Alana was awarded a full scholarship at the NSW institute of sport where she will be training with them in 2009. Only 2 weeks after the scholarship, came the news that she had been selected to represent Australia in the U16 Women's Football team at the upcoming AFC (Asian Football Confederation) qualification rounds.

"I am so proud to be selected and since I am the youngest in the team I am also a little bit nervous, so I try not to think too much about it" said Alanna about her selection.

The team entered a pre-tournament camp on the 2nd November before flying to Kuala Lumpur on the 4 th November where the tournament is held of the next 2 weeks. Should the team see success in this tournament they will qualify to compete in the U17 AFC in 2009. Success in the AFC will lead to a World Cup berth in the 2009 U17 World Cup.

Everybody within the Macarthur Football community wish Alanna the best of luck in the upcoming tournament.

For further details contact H. Lloyd, C/O MDSFA