TUMETH READY TO GET WOMEN’S NPL SEASON BACK ON TRACK

Sydney University SFC star defender Tori Tumeth was buzzing with excitement when she once again hit the turf running with her fellow teammates after recent COVID-19 football restrictions on training were eased.

Known as one of the most promising young National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s weapons of the competition, being capped for both the Junior and Young Matildas, the 19-year-old was keen on getting the season back on track with the hope of playing competitive matches very soon.

“It was good to get back to team training, although things were quite different due to the social distancing requirements, it was good seeing all the girls again and the normality of having training sessions once more.

“I guess there’s only so much you can do when training by yourself.

“Seeing everyone was great as it shows we are making fantastic progress to getting the season started up once more.

“I did enjoy the isolation period as it gave me an opportunity to work on myself and committing to my individual training as well as devoting more time towards my Uni studies but nothing beats playing our beautiful game.”

The former APIA, Canterbury and Football NSW Institute graduate, who now in her thirteenth football season, stated to Football NSW that the recent COVID-19 break did affect the 2019 dual Championship and Premiership winner in a number of ways.

“My University Primary Education degree was transitioned to online.

“My three forms of work also seized.

“I was no longer able to coach, teach P.E at primary schools or teach preschoolers multi-sport.

“My football training had stopped and ultimately I lost my whole weekly routine.

“I went from having minimal free time to practically no weekly commitments.

“At first this significant change caused me to have little motivation and the extended period of time was spent at home being unproductive.

“To get my routine back, I was doing four to five 1 on 1 technical sessions a week.

“I was able to work on areas of my game that I wanted to improve and may not have been able to as much in a team-based environment.

“I was also supplied a running and strength and conditioning program by Sydney University.

“My mindset changed from being unmotivated to wanting to use this time to get ahead of everyone else.”

Tumeth, who also plays Futsal with the Inner West Magic during the summer periods, was missing her Sunday fix with her beloved Uni girls.

“Of course the matches on Sunday’s were what I’ve missed the most from our game.

“In my eyes, at the end of the week is the reward for putting in at training and that is being on the pitch with my fellow teammates on Sunday so not having that has really been upsetting.”

With Football NSW along with the NSW Government and Office of Sport working together in getting competitive football on weekends back on track, Tumeth will know that she will have an extra supporter at her match – her miniature sausage dog, the loveable Charlie.

“About three weeks into the isolation break I bought a puppy, Charlie.

“He comes everywhere with me and I have even introduced him to my Sydney Uni gym sessions this week.

“I’ve been trying to train him over the past four weeks so slowly but surely he is getting better obeying things.”

-By Mark Stavroulakis, Football NSW