GYLLA MACKENZIE scored the only goal for the St Winifred's School in the recently concluded BICO Primary Schools Football tournament.

by MELISSA WICKHAM

WHILE MOST GIRLS her age scoff at the idea of rolling around in mud and playing with boys, 11-year-old Gylla Mackenzie wouldn't have it any other way.

The St Winifred's School student is one of only two girls on her school's football team but she is certainly at no disadvantage.

She made the honour roll during this year's BICO Primary Schools Football tournament and provided a shred of hope for St Winifred's when she scored the only goal in the finals against St Gabriel's School. St Gabriel's ended up winning the game and championship 4-1.

With some fancy footwork she scored the goal, her fourth goal of the tournament, in the 31st minute of the game.

"She lashed a left-foot shot past St Gabriel's goalkeeper Michael Grauwde and celebrated in style by bending her elbow and clenching her fist as she was hugged by her teammates," said one NATION reporter describing the exhilarating moment.

The SUNDAY SUN caught up with the camera-shy Gylla last week Thursday on her last day of school. She explained her strategy during the final game:

"Our coach always tells us to stay on the goalie and that is what I did. I started playing football because it just looked interesting to me. I like everything about it really. I love scoring goals. When I scored the only goal that St Winifred's had [in the finals], that made me feel excellent," said the talented lass, who is also the Under-13 national squash champion.

She has an older brother Matthew who is also into squash, and so is her dad Tony. But if she had to choose between football and squash there would be no contest.

"Football, definitely football," she said.

Gylla watches international football whenever she can to pick up pointers and names Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo as her role model.

As to why she thinks there are only two girls on her school team, Gylla had this to say:

"Not all of them are so tom-boyish I guess. It can be a dirty sport but I like to get dirty. The two of us girls get along with the boys on the team very well."

Her mother Sandra is kept very busy with her daughter's active lifestyle.

"I'm the chauffeur; I'm usually at every game," she said laughing. "I think she gets along well with the boys because she is like one of them. She is one of these children who like being outdoors."

"I don't worry about how rough the game can become; after all, she is playing with boys. If she falls, I get a little uneasy but I don't panic. Playing squash can inflict injuries too. She has a bruise on her face from a squash racket," she added.

Gylla's coach Dean Alleyne is pleased with her performance in the tournament and overall.

"Gylla is a girl with very good potential. For the last three years, I've been coaching her at St Winifred's and I think she has a good future in football. She plays the game for fun even though she can be very competitive," he said via a telephone interview.

Sandra thinks it's important that she supports her children in whatever they do and sports is no exception.

"I support her because she loves [football] to death. It is healthy. I think sports are very important for children because they keep them out of trouble. So it is something I encourage," she said.

Gylla's summer will be quite busy; she will soon be heading to Bermuda to take part in the 2008 Junior CASA Squash Championships between July 11 and 19 and, in keeping with her active lifestyle, she will be taking surfing lessons. Somewhere in her busy schedule she wants to attend a summer football camp being held by the Kickstart Football Club.

She encourages anyone, boy or girl, to give football a chance.

"They are really going to like it and they are going to learn a lot of stuff. And, more than anything, they are going to have lots of fun."