Young Matilda Avaani Prakash will realise her enormous potential at Western United, signing her first professional contract in the Liberty A-League Women.
At 16 years of age, Prakash has a remarkable resume having represented Australia at Under-17 and Under-20 level while also training as part of the Future Matildas program this year.
In 2022, she was part of the Junior Matildas side that won the AFF Women’s Championship, playing alongside Western United defender Silver Bell Morris in that team.
Prakash has also attended Westfield Sports High School, an institution with a remarkable Hall of Fame of footballers including Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Harry Kewell, as well as current Western United men’s stars Noah Botic and Ramy Najjarine.
Reaching a long-term goal in signing her first professional contract, Prakash said she is overjoyed to sign for Western United and is anxious to get started in the Liberty A-League.
“I am very grateful to Western United and can’t wait to play. I have been working very hard toward this for a number of years now,” she said.
“I am super excited and honoured to play alongside the talented players in the team and be guided by Mark. This is only the beginning of my professional football career, and I aim to bring finesse to Australian football and play a game that players and fans both enjoy.”
Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso said Prakash’s supreme quality and potential made her signing one of his most pleasing at the Club so far.
“I am extremely delighted to bring Avaani into our squad and grateful for all of the work that our staff put in to get this deal over the line,” he said.
“I have watched Avaani play a number of times and I have been so excited by her quality each time. She has the ability to go right to the top and I think our fans are going to love watching her play this season.
“Importantly, we recognise Avaani is still very young and has lots of growth to come, and we are committed to nurturing her talent and ensuring she can develop as one of the Green and Black family.”
Prakash has arrived in the West and will be working on the training pitch to earn selection in Western United’s next Liberty A-League match against Melbourne City on Sunday 5 November.
