Soccer dream comes true

Kirby Litterick, 9, of Umina has had many a soccer player's dream come true, when she met Australian Socceroo Harry Kewell recently.

Kewell plays for Leeds United in the English Premier League, which finished third in this year's premiership.

He was voted the English Premier Leagues Young Player of the Year and is expected to star for Australia's Olympic Soccer team as well as in the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign as a striker.

Kirby met Harry Kewell at Wentworth Park, Sydney, where she was part of the elite Coerver training squad.

The meeting between the squad and Kewell was part of a coaching clinic and media shoot.

The coaching clinic included Kewell's involvement with the squad in one-versus-one and two-versus-two exercises, as well as fast break attacks, hints and advice to the youngsters.

Kirby said she was looking forward to seeing him again at the Olympics when Australia meets Nigeria on September 16.

"I don't think I'll ever meet him again, but I'll never forget it," she said

Kirby said she enjoyed the media shoot as well.

She rode a scooter with Harry Kewell, which was filmed by Channel 7 and will be shown on their Olympic show.

"The scooter ride was great and Harry was pretty good on it," Kirby said.

"I would like one for Christmas."

Although the meeting with Harry Kewell was a highlight, Kirby has other commitments to fulfil for Coerver.

Recently, she has attended demonstrations at National Soccer League, Super League and Women's Pacific Cup matches.

In the upcoming school holidays, Kirby will assist with coaching clinics for boys and girls aged seven to 13 at Pluim Park.

Kirby attends Woy Woy South Public School.

Kirby is one of the few girls to take part in the NSW Soccer Federation Coerver Skill squad.

Based at Parklea in North West Sydney, the squad members meet two nights each week for training in the world-wide "new era" Coerver coaching techniques.

The squad is made up of elite players selected from a state-wide talent identification program run by the Federation.

The program consists of less than 20 players, who are asked to give up weekend competition matches so that they can concentrate on skills development.

Players who remain in the squad are expected to move on to playing for top clubs, State squads and eventually to enter an institute of sport for further skills development with the final aim being to play for their country.

It is rare for someone of Kirby's youth and gender to make the squad.

Carl Spears, June 14