CRUNCH time is coming for young sports star Chelsea Ford.
The 13-year-old from Frankston North is in the Victorian girls’ under-13 soccer team, has won five out of six boxing bouts and swims in a squad.
While there is no doubting her capabilities in each of these sports, her mother Cathy Steele says Chelsea must soon decide which one to pursue. Before the deadline for that decision, Chelsea, who plays for the Peninsula Strikers, will represent Victoria in the under-13 girls’ national soccer championships at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast.
“She needs to make up her mind soon which sport to specialise in,” Ms Steele said.
A year 8 student at Monterey Secondary College, Chelsea’s week nights consist of four soccer training sessions, one or two for boxing as well as her swimming.
Under the tutelage of Seaford-based boxing coach Sam Soliman, Chelsea has won five of her six amateur bouts.
Ms Steele sees herself as being “blessed to be the mother of a very talented little girl”.
Chelsea is one of the Ford family’s four children brought to Frankston from Barooga, NSW, by Ms Steele and her husband, Daryl.
Mr Ford is a bouts boxer who undoubtedly influenced his oldest daughter’s interest in the sport.
The Ford’s 11 and seven-year-old sons play soccer and enter triathlons while their four-year-old daughter is already into soccer with The Pines club.
Ms Steele is a sports masseur and says their children have grown up surrounded by sports.
However, Chelsea’s prowess is proving costly, with the family having to raise $3200 by 5 July for her four-day trip for the soccer nationals at Coffs Harbour.
“Not only is she an important part of the team, but she’s in the running for the state under-13s captaincy,” Ms Steele said.
“Unfortunately, if it’s not paid by 5 July she can’t go.”
Anyone who can help pay the cost of Chelsea Ford’s trip to Coffs Harbour can call Ms Steele on 0429 939 599.
