Brisbane Roar young gun Kaitlyn Torpey talks about the impact of her mentor Mel Andreatta ahead of the 2019/20 W-League season.
Highly regarded football coach Mel Andreatta has nurtured and played a key role in the development of the 19-year-old defender.
“I’ve had Mel as my coach since I was 12, so we know each other very well and have a good relationship that has been carried throughout the senior program together,” Torpey said.
After consecutive years as head coach with Brisbane Roar, Andreatta has decided to dedicate her time to continue her role within the Matildas set up.
Although Andreatta is parting ways with the club, for the time being, Torpey is confident she will not lose sight of one of her major influencers.
“Mel has always been supporting me, calling me, messaging me and pushing me at training,” she said.
“We have gone through most of our experience together and she has always guided me, Mel and I are always going to stay in contact.”
Andreatta has been a massive part of Roar’s success, yet Torpey remains optimistic and said she was looking forward to the changes a new coach would bring.
Jake Goodship has received the call-up as head coach and will take Brisbane under his wing this season.
It’s still early days for Goodship but Torpey had nothing but positive feedback for Andreatta’s replacement.
“It’s been really good so far; the intensity has been very high, and he is always talking and building the intensity,” she said.
“It’s only been a week, however, the team is gelling well even without all the players yet.
”
Goodship has had coaching positions within the Young Roar’s program and now must prove himself with the women’s senior team.
“It is challenging for all of us to get used to a male figure head in the club and will be a challenge for Jake with women’s football,” she said.
“However, it will be a good step up intensity wise with so many young players and you couldn’t tell Jake hasn’t had experience with women’s football yet.”
With a promising football career ahead for Torpey, positive and nurturing mentors like Andreatta provide vital foundations towards the success of a player.
Goodship will hopefully nurture Torpey’s young talent this season, to fill Andreatta shoes as a key figurehead for the side’s further improvement.
Feature image credit: Paul Smith, Brisbane Roar
Enjoy this content? Support The Football Sack
Due in part to COVID and lack of current sponsorship we are at risk of not having the funds to continue running The Football Sack. If you enjoy our content and support our work in training talented young writers, please support us with a donation. If every reader contributed just $3, our funding would be covered for over ten years.
| DONATE |
