THERE may not have been many of a Celtic persuasion who were steadfastly confident that Ange Postecoglou would be a success this season, but then, not everybody has a connection to him like Jacynta Galabadaarachchi.
The Celtic women’s team forward revealed that Postecoglou once coached her brother in youth football back in Australia, and added to the reputation he enjoys in their mutual homeland, she was always certain that he would prove to be a success in Glasgow.
Galabadaarachchi was honoured along with Postecoglou at the PFA Scotland Awards on Sunday night, picking up the inaugural Women’s Young Player of the Year Award, and just like her compatriot, she has proven to be a fantastic acquisition by the club.
“He coached my brother Jeremiah when he was 15 in the academy in Victoria, where I am from,” Galabadaarachchi said. “I’ve not been coached by him but my brother did.
“When I heard Ange had taken the Celtic job I thought he was going to do amazing here because he’s such a great coach and the way that he coaches and the football he plays, I knew he would do well.”
Galabadaarachchi has certainly done not too badly for herself either since joining Celtic from Napoli back in February of last year, and she is certain that she made the right move in joining a club and league that is heading in the right direction.
“Fran Alonso the coach contacted my agent,” she said. “He actually played against me when I was at West Ham and he was with Lewes FC. It was a cup game and he said he was really interested. I liked the way Fran coaches and when I heard it was Celtic I was like: ‘yes of course.’
“This is the first year that there has been a professional league and you can tell the difference already. It is heading in the right direction. It just needs to keep going. Hopefully we will be treated equally like the men one day but it’s heading in the right direction.
“I don’t know what the secret is [to my success this year]. I actually started off quite slowly this season but then I got into the rhythm of things.
“I’ve got a great team around me and I could not have won this award without all the girls and all the staff members.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here