Jamara Maza is Australian Football Coach of the Year

05.10.2011

Courtesy FFV Website

Victoria’s own Jamara Maza has come home from the Australian Football Awards in Sydney with the title of 2011 Female Coach of the Year.

Jamara, holder of a Youth Certificate II, delivers the Indigenous Football Development Program at Worawa Aboriginal College and coached the Victorian Girls team at the National Indigenous Football Festival in Alice Springs in July.

Consistently demonstrating her dedication to the game of association football, Jamara recently attended the FIFA Grassroots Program to continue her development and to help her already advanced ability to engage the Victorian Aboriginal community.

The former championship winning captain with Heidelberg United in the Womens Premier League now adds this latest gong to her steadily growing collection, as she won Female Coach of the Year at Football Federation Victoria’s (FFV) Gold Medal Night in August this year.

“It is quite fitting for Jamara to get recognition for her efforts on a national stage” said FFV CEO, Mark Rendell.

“We have known about her dedication, hard work and unique ability to connect with the Indigenous community for some time and it is testament to what she has achieved in such a short coaching career so far that she has been awarded 2011 Female Coach of the Year.

“It is a proud moment for Jamara, Victorian football and the Indigenous community.

“We look forward to working together in the future to ensure genuine access to football in Victoria for all members of the community regardless of age, background and gender.”

The third annual Australian Football Awards incorporated both professional and non-professional achievements and coaches from all around the nation were vying against Jamara for her award.

"We received a record number of nominations for this year’s awards from all around Australia," said Football Federation Australia CEO, Ben Buckley.

“It is humbling to see the diversity of people that contribute so much of their lives to this sport that we all love.