Dubbo schoolgirls Ashleigh and Nicole Sykes will take their first steps towards a professional soccer career when they line up for Canberra United in the opening round of the inaugural W-League on Sunday.
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The 16-year-old Dubbo Christian School students will make the trip to Newcastle with their family as United meet the Newcastle Jets in the competition, which has been designed to give female players an elite level league to aspire to.
For Ashleigh, this weekend’s trip will continue a busy period which has included a tour of Vietnam with the Matildas, who were crowned Asian champions at the tournament.
After Sunday’s match she will hop on a plane and head to Malaysia with the Young Matildas.
The girls’ father Derek Sykes said it was nice to have Ashleigh home, even though it is only for a short while.
“Ashleigh got back on Wednesday afternoon and will be home for a couple of days before going again,” Derek said.
“This trip to Malaysia will be her last this year because both girls have got Year 12 to do next year.
“They’ve been told they will have to knuckle down but the Christian School has been great with them both having so much time off and helping them get through school.”
The ABC has picked up the broadcast rights to the W-League in its inaugural season and while Canberra United’s first match won’t be shown on television, next week’s clash against the Queensland Roar will give Dubbo fans the chance to watch the girls in action.
The Sykes’ have been put in contact with the family of Matildas star Sally Shipard, who made the leap to the national team at a young age, in order to work out the best plan of balancing sporting commitments as well as allowing the girls to live a normal teenage life.
“It’s going to be a juggle for them because there is the HSC to get through as well as their training and playing commitments,” Derek Sykes said.”
“As it stands they will only be doing four-and-a-half days of school a week because of travel.”
The Sykes’ will only be able to play Canberra United’s home games as well as their clash against Sydney FC.
They will not be making the trips to places such as Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, instead waiting for phone calls from the girls.
“It’s too hard to get to all of the games and it would become very costly,” Derek Sykes said.
“We’ve got two other kids and to hop on planes and travel all over the place just isn’t economically viable.
“Lucky the girls are being well looked after and we have faith they will be okay whenever they travel away.”
