Jaya Bowman receives her award as joint Player of the Year. Photo: Canberra Olympic Football Club.
A teenage Canberra Olympic midfielder is in line to make an A-League Women’s squad after snaring the local joint Player of the Year award for 2024.
Jaya Bowman, who turned 18 on Saturday (12 October), has been offered a scholarship by Canberra United, the ACT’s representative team in the top-flight nationwide professional league.
“They watched me play during the season, and they had me in for a trial. They then offered me a contract last weekend,” Ms Bowman said.
Her success came just after she was awarded the National Premier League Capital Football (domestic league) joint women’s Player of the Year award alongside Canberra Olympic teammate Madelyn Whittall.
“I thank Canberra Olympic, Canberra United and my family, who have sacrificed so much to help me get to where I am,” she said.
Bowman was living in Ulladulla before moving to the capital to play in a more competitive league. She has just completed Year 12 at Lake Ginninderra College.
“I started off in my local team in Ulladulla-Mollymook, fell in love with the game and decided that’s what I wanted to pursue,” she said.
“Unless you’re in a major city, it’s hard to get access to elite play. I wish there were more opportunities for girls in rural areas.”
In 2021, Jaya Bowman was selected for the junior Matildas’ squad. Photo: Mike’s Soccer Pics.
Canberra Olympic coach Frank Cachia said he felt she was something special the moment he took charge of her squad.
“I sat down with her Dad at the beginning of the year. I went through the academy videos and she was the one player who I thought could really make it,” he said.
“She’s a 17-year-old dominating midfielder, standing up physically and mentally week after week. To see her become Player of the Year and then get this scholarship is so fulfilling for a coach.”
Bowman will now be required to go to the gym three mornings a week, train every day except Wednesday and Sunday, and travel around the country to play for Canberra United. But she’ll also have to get another job to support herself.
“To not have a full-time wage and commit to the sport is very difficult and something for which we are fighting for,” she said.
Tigers FC midfielder Tomohiro Ogawa was crowned Capital Football men’s Player of the Year at the domestic league’s award night earlier this month.
Queanbeyan City’s Argentinean lynchpin, Nahuel Guerrero, was named Capital Premier League Player of the Season, capping an impressive year for City, which achieved promotion to the top tier and claimed grand final glory at the Riverside Stadium.
Elsewhere, Yoogali FC stalwart Sante Donadel was awarded the Volunteer of the Year, while South Canberra collected the Club of the Year gong.
Tuggeranong United scooped the new award for Innovative Program of the Year, providing opportunities for players to engage with areas and topics that are not related to their pure football ability.
Capital Football also welcomed two new entrants into their Hall of Fame, with local legends Andy Bernal and Amy Duggan recognised and honoured for their parts in promoting the region through their respective football careers.
In the coach’s awards, Cristal King of Belconnen United CPL U23 was named Coach of the Year after her side won the league championship.
Blue Devil Scott Conlon was named the NPL women’s Coach of the Year. His Canberra Croatia counterpart Dean Ugrinic claimed the NPL men’s version of this award.
There was double delight for Nathan Shakespear in the referee awards category. The whistleblower won the NPL Men’s Referee of the Year and overall Referee of the Year awards, while newcomer Lauren Riddel was rewarded for an excellent debut season with the NPL Women’s Referee of the Year trophy.
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