Zahra making a name for herself on footy field
SHE shares a famous name in the AFL Townsville community, but Queensland masters star Genaffer Zahra is quickly carving out her own legacy.
Zahra’s husband Steve was a local AFL legend playing for the Thuringowa Bulldogs before moving into coaching and umpiring and playing with the Townsville Sharks masters side. But severe knee injuries forced the veteran off the field and it left a hole that needed to be filled.
It was Genaffer who stepped up to the mark, joining the Bulldogs fraternity in their senior women’s ranks.
“I missed that atmosphere of football and the football club,” she said. “I wanted to get down there to start playing and be among that family again. Before I knew it I got thrown well.”
She has starred for the Sharks since joining their masters ranks, and has quickly grown into a representative player. This weekend she will pull on the maroon of Queensland once again for her third AFL Masters National Carnival.
But this time it will be in front of her friends and family, and with the Queensland into the masters as women determined to retain the shield, the pressure is on.
“I have done it before, I know what to expect. It is a good game, (there is a lot of) heavy hitting and those girls mean business,” she said.
“The Queensland Masters women are reigning premiers and looking to keep our trophy.
“The pressure is high, but we have to get to the grand final first.
“We have to get past Vic Metro, Vic Country and we suspect we will come across (arch-rivals) NSW again.”
The AFL Masters National Carnival kicks off in Townsville on Sunday and will run for seven days with more than 1000 players from across the country representing their states. Matches will be played at Murray Sports Complex, Riverway Stadium and Magnetic Island.