Former Majura SC junior Kahlia Hogg is confident that United can make the finals despite the team’s loss to Brisbane Roar before Christmas with the central midfielder hopeful of playing her a major role in the run in.
Former Majura SC junior Kahlia Hogg is confident that United can make the finals despite the team-s loss to Brisbane Roar before Christmas with the central midfielder hopeful of playing her a major role in the run in.
Hogg, 17, has forced her way back into the starting line-up after suffering from an injury during the off-season that was attributed to her growth in stature.
“I had a bit of a mal-tracking problem as a result of a really rapid growth spurt so just getting over that took some time,” Hogg confirmed. “I couldn-t have made the recovery without the support of the medical staff and the setting up of a gym program. Without them I wouldn-t be playing, so I-d like to say thanks to all involved in my recovery.”
The physical growth that Hogg has undergone since the end of the Westfield W-League Season Two has certainly been noticeable adding an extra dimension added to her game in 2010/11, with strength on the ball now allied to her tenacity in the tackle, something that Hogg herself has noticed during matches this season.
“Having that extra little bit of size has definitely helped, especially when it comes to contesting the ball with some of the bigger, international, players and the older players that are scattered around the various teams in the Westfield W-League, so it-s allowed me to compete a bit more and given me more confidence to put my body on the line,” she said.
At one stage earlier in the year it seemed as though Hogg-s lack of fitness and match time due to the injury would go against her when the squad for the first match of the campaign was selected by Ray Junna. However, Hogg-s versatility and will to fight for her place had done enough to impress the United head coach and her selection for that match was a seminal moment for the youngster.
“I-d been working hard after having quite some time out getting over my injury and I-d been working as hard as I could just to get back into that squad. For me a really important moment was being selected to go to Perth, even though I was only on the bench, because I-d worked for three months just to get back into running. So to be selected was really important to me,” Hogg revealed.
With four rounds remaining places in the top four are still up for grabs with results in recent weeks showing that the competition is open as far as the finals places are concerned, something that Hogg has noted, convinced that United have what it takes to claim the silverware.
“I think it-s been a very exciting season with some interesting results particularly the Sydney v Newcastle match and I can only see it continuing as we move towards the last couple of rounds. I think we have an extremely good chance to remain in the top four into the final week and our aim after that would be to play as well as we can. I think we have the ability to go all the way and win the competition.”
Canberra United travels to Melbourne on Saturday 8th January to play the Melbourne Victory with kick off at 3pm with the match being broadcast LIVE on ABC1.
