Western United confirms A-League Women football department

Western United has confirmed its football department appointments ahead of its inaugural Liberty A-League Women season.

Six roles have been filled to join Head Coach Mark Torcaso and Assistant Coach Helen Winterburn in completing the football department.

Jonathan Barrientos will lead the side’s fitness program as the Strength & Conditioning Coach, furthering his development after previous roles at Whittlesea Ranges and Avondale FC.

Barrientos has completed a Master’s degree in Sports Science and is also an ex-professional futsal player having represented Australia in the Futsalroos.

He will be joined by George Mcheileh as Physiotherapist. Mcheileh has previous A-League Women experience with Melbourne City and co-owns his own practice, Rebuild Health & Performance, alongside Western United Senior Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach Louis Mazza.

Barrientos and Mcheileh will be supported in the medical department by Club Doctor, Dr David Bolzonello.

Having previously worked with United’s A-League Men team, Bolzonello has an extensive history of working in elite sport, including at Carlton, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans in the AFL.

Sharna Naidu will provide them with the information to perform at the highest level as Performance Analyst.

In March this year, Naidu was one of 47 women across the world to be awarded a FIFA Coach Education Scholarship after her work within Football Victoria’s Talented Player Development Program and at Melbourne Victory.

Naidu also holds a Master’s in Sports Science (Football Performance) and has been working as an Assistant Analyst within Tony Gustavsson’s staff at the CommBank Matildas, while also studying for her FIFA B-Class Coaching Licence.

Blerton Belica has joined as Goalkeeper Coach and will work with United’s talented young goalkeepers in Hillary Beall and Alyssa Dall’Oste. Belica brings with him experience at NPL level with the likes of Melbourne Knights, Port Melbourne Sharks and Hume City.

Scott Goulding completes United’s inaugural A-League Women football department, joining as Team Manager. Goulding has been a valued member of the Calder United family as a committee member and assistant coach in the Under 19’s.

The Western United women began training last week, with the historic first match set for November 19 against Melbourne Victory at City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field.