Broken Hill Soccer Association kicks off this weekend with some mouth-watering fixtures to kick off the 2023 campaign, including last year’s premiers Alma taking on St Joes while West, runners up in the 2022 competition, are going up against what promises to be a resurgent Celtic side.
We had a brief chat with Alma coach Codey Ralph, who is taking the reins from Will Hebbard, ahead of the premier’s first game of the season. Ralph is looking to continue The Goats’ tradition of winning premierships.
“We play well together. A lot of the girls have grown up playing together. It might be a bit different this year. We’ve had a lot of ins and outs, new players arriving things like that,” Ralph told the Truth.
Despite the change in personnel, it does seem likely Lakeisha Sloane will retain her position as captain, although that will be up to a players’ vote.
“I would imagine they’re going to choose Lakeisha again. She’s been great for the girls. You notice a difference when she’s not on the pitch. She calms everything down and leads by example.”
PANTHERS LOOK TO LEAP
Last year’s runners up, West Panthers, will be looking to go one better this year, and it all starts against Celtic this weekend.
West legend George Bugeja is taking the reins once again and he says it is business as usual for the Panthers.
“We’ve got a lot of new girls that haven’t played before, so that’s a work in progress. But they’re keen. They’re trying. And we’ve still got a lot of the old team there. It is a more mature side this year,” Bugeja says.
The return of Rebecca Deer has the West gaffer excited, and he thinks she can add something special to the side this season whether it is in the midfield or defence.
“We’ve got Rebecca Deer back. She’s been away and she is back this year. She’s still playing footy as well, so she looks pretty fit.”
You can catch all the women’s soccer action this Sunday on the top oval of O’Neill Memorial Park, with Celtic taking on West from 2.15pm, followed by the Alma and St Joes clash at 4.20pm
