Kyah Simon

Kyah Simon

Simon playing for Boston Breakers in 2013
Personal information
Full nameKyah Pam Simon[1]
Date of birth25 June 1991
Place of birthAustralia
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Sydney FC
Number17
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2009Central Coast Mariners9(5)
2009–Sydney FC30(16)
2012Boston Breakers(12)
2013Boston Breakers1(0)
2013–2014Western Sydney Wanderers1(0)
2014–Sydney FC0(0)
National team‡
2008–Australia U-204(5)
2007–Australia29(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 June 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 July 2011

Kyah Pam Simon (born 25 June 1991) is an Indigenous Australian professional football (soccer) striker. Simon became the first indigenous woman (she is of Australian-Aboriginal descent) to score for the Australia women's national football team. She currently plays for Sydney FC of the W-League in Australia, having previously played for Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers in the Australian W-League, as well as the Boston Breakers in the American National Women's Soccer League.[2][3]

Early life

Growing up amongst a family of rugby players in Quakers Hill, New South Wales, near Sydney, Australia, Simon began playing football for the Quakers Hill under-8s and fell in love with the game. As a youth, she played for the Hills Brumbies before moving across to Penrith Nepean United. At age fifteen, she broke her leg just on the verge of earning a scholarship with the NSW Institute of Sport, but that did not deter her from pursuing her dream. She made her national debut for the Australia women's national football team the following year at age 16.[4][5]

Playing career

Club

Simon playing for the Central Coast Mariners

Central Coast Mariners

Kyah made her debut for the Central Coast Mariners against Melbourne Victory on Saturday, 25 October 2008. Kyah then made her scoring debut during Round 3 against Canberra United, scoring a double to assist the Mariners to a 2–1 win away from home.

Sydney FC

Simon joined Sydney FC for the 2009 W-League Season, playing in the first round against former club the Central Coast Mariners.[6]

She was the top scorer in the 2010–11 W-League with 11 goals in 12 games. She also earned Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year honours.[7]

Boston Breakers

In April 2012, Simon signed with the Boston Breakers for the first and only season of the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL Elite). She finished the season as the team's leading scorer with 12 goals and 26 points. She also ranked second in the league in the same categories. Simon logged 1,052 minutes with the Breakers and finished with two assists.[5]

In 2013, Simon signed as a free agent with the Breakers for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.[8][9]

Western Sydney Wanderers

In September 2013, Simon signed with Western Sydney Wanderers.[10]

Return to Sydney FC

After being injured for most of the 2013–14 season and hardly playing, Simon returned to Sydney FC for the 2014 season.[11]

Kyah Simon playing against the Japan WNT in Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo in June 2012

International

Simon made her debut for the Australia women's national football team in August 2007, at the age of 16, in a match against Hong Kong. She scored her first goal in a win over Brazil in the 2008 Peace Cup. In 2010, she scored the winning penalty for Australia to win the 2010 Asian Cup.[5]

Simon appeared at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she scored both of Australia's goals in a 2–1 win over Norway to ensure qualification for the quarter finals. She was the first ever Indigenous Australian (male or female) to score a goal in a World Cup tournament.[5]

In popular culture

Television and film

External video
Aussies Abroad: The Matildas (ESPN) retrieved 12/18/2013

In 2013, Simon was featured in an hour-long episode of ESPN's Aussies Abroad entitled, The Matildas, which profiled four Australian national team players (Simon, Lisa De Vanna, Samantha Kerr, and Caitlin Foord) and their experience playing internationally.[12][13] Simon was also one of the subjects of a football documentary titled "No Apologies" by award winning filmmaker Ashley Morrison. This documentary tells the story of two Aboriginal female footballers and their journey to the World Cup. The other footballer featured in this documentary is Lydia Williams.

Magazines

In June 2011, Simon was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo Magazine along with fellow Matilda's Melissa Barbieri, Sam Kerr, Thea Slatyer and Sarah Walsh.[14]

Honours

With Sydney FC:

With Australia

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players – 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ↑ Kyah Simon joins Boston Breakers Football Federation Australia
  3. ↑ Sydney FC Profile
  4. ↑ "This Sporting Life: Kyah Simon". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Kyah Simon". Boston Breakers. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Australian FourFourTwo – Mariners take down Sydney
  7. ↑ No Apologies – Kyah Simon
  8. ↑ "Kyah Simon is returning to the Boston Breakers". NWSL News. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Simon studying Stateside". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Odong, Ann (24 September 2013). "Kyah Simon wanders home to Western Sydney". The Women's Game.
  11. ↑ "Westfield W-League Squad Bolstered As New Shirt Sponsor Gained". Football Federation Australia. 29 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "The Matildas". ESPN. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  13. ↑ "Aussies Abroad: The Matildas". YouTube.com. ESPN. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Kyah: Now I've Got Your Attention...". Four Four Two. Retrieved 3 May 2013.

External links