They boast nearly 100 international caps between them, but Western Sydney Wanderers Captain Sarah Walsh and Servet Uzunlar are enjoying their new challenge as senior members and mentors to their fellow teammates in the Western Sydney Wanderers W-League side.
They boast nearly 100 international caps between them, but Western Sydney Wanderers Captain Sarah Walsh and Servet Uzunlar are enjoying their new challenge as senior members and mentors to their fellow teammates in the Western Sydney Wanderers W-League side.
Uzunlar says that playing a more active leadership role comes with the territory of being a Matilda, and she is relishing in the opportunity to guide the Wanderers during their inaugural season.
“It has been fantastic to be part of a new club,” she said. “It is exciting to be part of something from the very beginning and it seemed to be a good fit and change for me. Coming across from Sydney FC as a Matilda I knew that there would be a possibility I would be playing a more active role as a leader.”
Walsh says that she is pleased with how the Wanderers are progressing, and with only five points separating the top four teams, six clubs are vying for a finals position.
“It is really anybody-s game this season,” said Walsh. “Everybody has a chance to make it to the grand final.”
The Wanderers suffered a disappointing loss against Perth last week but Walsh says that coach Stephen Roche has worked hard in training this week improving the confidence of the players in the lead up to the match.
“Things were not going to plan and we lost the way in which we have been playing for the last four weeks,” she says. “That was disappointing and it is something we will be hoping to rectify this week.”
The Wanderers will face Adelaide in tomorrow-s clash at Campbelltown stadium, the first time they have met since their 4-3 loss in the opening round of the competition.
With Adelaide United scoring three miraculous goals in the last ten minutes of the game, Walsh says that the Wanderers are now more determined than ever to ensure that they do not let victory slip once again.
“That game was a huge turning point for us,” she says. “It actually was a wakeup call and if we had won that game, who knows if we would have been as hungry to win.”
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