Soccer, study, Greek school, training – that’s just a day in the life of 14-year-old Eleni Fakos. But all that hard work has paid off. The self-confessed soccer mad teenager is one of five Victorians selected in the national all-stars teams at the recent FFA National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour.
“It’s a great achievement,” Eleni tells Neos Kosmos.
“Everyone wishes to get into one of these so it’s a massive achievement for me. I was excited, I am happy and still happy,” she says.
Eleni, who rates Leo Messi as her all-time favourite football star, took up football at the tender age of nine. From there, her skills were quickly picked up and she played alongside the boys in various teams where it upped the ante for her and forced her to move quicker, and be stronger. She’s now playing at Heidelberg with the seniors in the women’s league and says there is a lot to learn from there too.
Asked whether or not she thinks females get enough exposure in the sport, Eleni admits that although they don’t get the same level of support the men do, she believes it’s great being a female football player as people aren’t expecting it.
And the future looks incredibly bright for this youngster of football. She has an interview coming up with a US college for a scholarship. But Eleni is level-headed enough to know that if she’s unsuccessful, she still has plenty of years ahead for her – and one day may lead to wearing the green and gold.