YOUNG Ballarat goal keeper, Zaige Porra, has just returned from the Under 21 2018 Fiji Hockey International in December where he represented Australia.<\/p>\n
Securing a place in the team had been a huge goal for Porra, now 18-years-old.<\/p>\n
During a long selection process, he was seen representing Victoria in Berri in August and made the cut for the under 21 national side.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt a lot of pride within myself that I was able to get into the team, really. It was quite an impressive line up we had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing keepers, it\u2019s a little bit harder for us. Field play, if you\u2019re good enough overall, you can change positions. Goal keeper- there\u2019s only two spots, that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fiji\u2019s conditions were testing. In up to 40-degree heat, Porra was losing 3kg in each of the six games played, but he enjoyed the competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cFiji was the toughest team to play. They had a bit of home field advantage and weather advantage, but the strength and determination they have is absolutely outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Porra\u2019s introduction to hockey came at age 11, after he broke his ankle playing soccer.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my mates said to come down to the local Ballarat ground and try my hand at this. Kind of got the bug from there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played for my school, St Pats, in year seven or eight and we didn\u2019t have a keeper. I was the youngest there, they made me do it. I loved getting the ball hit at me for some reason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Porra started with Altona\u2019s Premier League Reserve team four seasons ago at only 14 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to do the Premier League Reserves keeper job. The average age there is at least 20. It got me where I am now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard being in a country town and club. It\u2019s hard to be seen and get the training and the skills you want. I\u2019ve been lucky with the opportunities I\u2019ve had to go and play in Melbourne. A lot of kids don\u2019t get that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Porra is grateful for the support he\u2019s received along the way from Jeff Sly, manager of the Australian Country Under 21 Men and Mike Nelson, Head of Australian Country. But having just finished Year 12 at St Patrick\u2019s College, Porra is looking forward to 2019 where he hopes to build new networks during an overseas gap year.<\/p>\n
With a connection he\u2019s made over his years at Altona, he\u2019s considering a \u201cclub swap.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur keeper is from England and he\u2019s come over to play for four years. While he\u2019s at our club, maybe I can go to his club.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
YOUNG Ballarat goal keeper, Zaige Porra, has just returned from the Under 21 2018 Fiji Hockey International in December where he represented Australia. Securing a place in the team had been a huge goal for Porra, now 18-years-old. During a long selection process, he was seen representing Victoria in Berri in August and made the […]<\/p>\n