Pyper leads PBC’s march
BEING bestowed as captain in her final year of high school has proven the ultimate confidence boost for Palm Beach Currumbin senior footballer Pyper Lochead.
Since joining PBC’s sporting excellence program in Year 7, the 17-year-old has admitted struggling for form and a starting spot in the Reds’ starting 11.
But with PBC losing a trio of star players to injury, Lochead has stepped up to fill the void and will now have the opportunity to captain the side she’s seen flourish over the past six years when the Brisbane Schools Premier League kicks off on Wednesday.
“Stepping up as captain has given me the confidence to step on the field,” Lochead said.
“I never used to believe in myself playing football but I’ve hit a point where I do.
“I get very nervous before games. I’m prepared physically but I find it hard to prepare mentally.
“It’s my last year in high school so I’d love to win the final and take out a title for PBC. This team has grown so much – we’ve gone from 11 players and now we’ve got a squad of 20 so it’s been amazing watching the program step up and be noticed.”
Lochead, who is originally from just outside Hamilton in New Zealand, grew up watching her dad play football and is currently a member of the Logan Lightning NPL squad but hopes to play overseas in either England, the United States or in New Zealand.
“I’ve grown up watching my dad play football since forever so I’ve taken up the mantle since he’s retired and I watch every game,” she said.
Meanwhile, Palm Beach Currumbin senior boys’ outfit will enter the competition starting with the nucleus of the side which claimed the coveted trophy in 2019.
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, a founding member of the SPL in 2009, claimed its fourth senior boys title last year while the PBC girls have won the tournament twice.
“The senior boys team has seven members that won the competition in 2019 and the senior girls team is a relatively new squad for 2020,’’ PBC football excellence coach Shane Robinson said.
Finn Tewson will lead the PBC open boys while Robinson expected Eli Hughes from the senior boys to impress because of his ability to create goalscoring chances.
PYPER LOCHEAD
STEPPING UP AS CAPTAIN HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE TO STEP ON THE FIELD. I NEVER USED TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF PLAYING FOOTBALL BUT I’VE HIT A POINT WHERE I DO.