By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Thunder has long been known for the achievements of its men’s team in the Victorian Premier League.
But now the club is also working to grow its girls program, fielding a team in the Football Federation Victoria 13-14C girls competition this season and aiming to field more teams in 2014.
The Thunder has fielded under-16 and under-12 sides in the past but this is its first girls side in five years.
Thunder girls coach Eva Bukin said the club had 17 players aged between 10 and 14 in its team and she hoped to lure more girls to the club.
“We started in January with two girls who had played the game previously.
“We grew the team from word of mouth through the Dandenong primary schools and the high schools. The team has done quite well so far.”
Bukin said her players had made major improvements in just six games so far this season and had battled hard despite having such a wide range of ages in their side.
“At the start of this season we had only 11 players and weren’t doing too well but as the skills have developed and their passing has improved we’ve started winning games.”
Bukin said girls from across south-east Melbourne were welcome to join the Thunder.
“We want to draw more girls in and hopefully have a good solid group of 13 year olds.
“Rather than having the ages all mixed. We’d like to have two teams and build our girls program from there, because there are not too many girls’ sides in the Dandenong region outside of Noble Park and Cranbourne.”
The Thunder girls train at George Andrews Reserve, Dandenong, from 5pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information on the team email dandenongthunder@live.com.au or visit the FFV website.
■ Dandenong Thunder senior men won through to the last eight of the FFV state knockout cup with a 3-0 win over St Kilda City on Saturday.
The draw for the quarter-finals will be announced in the coming weeks.
