Young football star Sofia Sakalis has been selected as one of 10 nationwide finalists to be in the running for the Colonial First State Sports Boost competition, the recipient of which receives $20,000 to assist in pursuing their sports dream.
The program was developed to give high achieving young Aussie elite athletes a helping hand as they strive to reach their sporting goals. Sofia was one of national finalists selected by a panel from nearly 600 athletes across more than 60 sports.
Sakali’s talent and potential have been recognised from an early age, and Socceroo great Tim Cahill selected the then 12-year old to represent Australia in the 2014 Disney International Cup in Florida, where she won gold. Since then she’s gone on to represent Victoria as well as the U17 Junior Matildas at the AFC Qualifiers in Vietnam where she finished the tournament’s top scorer.
She now trains full-time with two-time championship winner Melbourne City FC Women’s. Sofia continues to work towards playing professional football and compete for Australia at a World Cup and Olympic tournament.
Sakalis told Neos Kosmos that winning the competition “would mean the world to me because as I’m striving to make it, there are so many costs associated with becoming an elite athlete that people sometimes don’t realise. I would like to get private health cover to assist in any related injuries, professional assistance and guidance to keep at the top of my game, tournaments etc . . . it all adds up . . . and at the moment we can’t afford everything that I need.”
The recipient of the Sports Boost is determined by a popular vote, with voting closing at the end of June. Each voter automatically goes into the running to win one of ten FitBit surge fitness super watches.
To find out more about Sofia, go to www3.colonialfirststate.com.au/personal/campaigns/sports-boost/sports-boost-finalists/sports-boost-sofia-sakalis.html
Register your vote for Sofia at https://ik.formstack.com/forms/sports_boost_voting