For a footballer, juggling club commitments with national team duty is never easy, but for Sydney FC’s Alanna Kennedy it’s an act she’s willing to handle if it means she can compete at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Kennedy said that while the twice monthly Westfield Matildas’ camps can be a disruption to her Westfield W-League season she feels like she’s not missing out on anything at the Sky Blues training, such is the tight night nature of the 2015/16 playing group.
“It’s pretty tough on both your body and your mental state as well,” Kennedy said.
“We’ve got two camps every month and it’s hard and distracting to come in and out of the W-League but with the Olympics around the corner it’s the priority at the moment and we need every time we can get together.
“It’s what needs to be done but it makes for a tiring couple of weeks and months. Usually you just run through the W-League without any disruptions, but the Olympics is a huge thing.
“We went to the World Cup and that was amazing and we really want to be at the Olympics and if that means a little bit of disruption to the W-League then it has to be done.
“I come away from the camps feeling really good,” she continued.
“I think any time we have together is good and coming in with the confidence from your games at the weekend in the W-League also helps so there are some positive sides to it.
“I think sometimes when you come back you feel like you’ve missed out on something but when you’re back with the girls it feels like you never left.
“I’m not sure how the other girls feel but that’s how I feel, we’re such a tight team at Sydney and it shows how much the team values us girls and appreciates and understands that we have to leave for national team duties.”
Ahead of the Sky Blues clash against Perth Glory on Sunday, Kennedy said she’s enjoying being back with Sydney FC as she said she was pleased with her form so far, following a spectacular free kick at the weekend to open her goal account for the season.
“I’m loving just being back at my home team,” she said.
“I enjoy the girls and it’s been up and down for a lot of teams but the team we’ve got has so much depth. Most importantly I’ve enjoyed every single week so far and it’s great being back at Sydney.
“I’ve been happy with the way I’ve played the last couple of weeks and I’m really glad to get that goal at the weekend too.”
Sydney FC’s Westfield W-League squad take on the Perth Glory away from home at Ashfield Sports Club on Sunday 13 December (kick off 7pm AEDT). Follow @SydneyFC on Twitter for updates.
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