Football officer excited for season in women’s space
Southland football female development officer Gargi Lele is hoping to continue on the success from the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Invercargill.
Having one of the biggest sporting events on the calendar in New Zealand was massive for the women’s game, and Lele said she hoped to use the buzz and hype of the tournament to boost the sport within the region.
Lele moved to Dunedin for a role with football, however loved Invercargill and once she saw the role pop up with Southland Football, instantly put her name in the ring, she said.
“It’s a great role. I was part of the Fifa Women’s World Cup last year and loved it. I was working at Southern Football as a leverage and legacy development officer. My biggest challenge for this year will be how do I continue on that legacy and popularity of the football world cup here?
“I don’t want people going ‘The world cup is over and that’s it’. I want girls and women to carry on playing football and keep the buzz going.”
There was plenty on the calendar for this year to keep her busy, she said.
“I want to keep growing it but also get more girls-only football teams. That will be a real goal, alongside doing activities and festivals for women and girls.
“I will also look at ways to see how we can promote football and get girls playing and making them feel safe and have fun. I am enjoying the role. Ryan [Gardiner, football development officer] and Iain [Walker, football development and operations manager] have been great.”
Another goal for Lele was to improve the performances of Southland age grade sides.
“I want to make them more competitive. I want to try and help them win some games. That would go a long way to helping improve our football.”
Lele said there was plenty of talent in Southland. “There’s so much. We just need to give them the opportunity and space to play, feel and learn the game.”
She first moved to Invercargill from India to study sports and exercise at SIT and the city was home for four years, before she moved to Dunedin for postgraduate study.
Sport had always been in her blood, with her parents playing hockey and cricket. “Dad is a cricket journalist and I was bored of it because of dad’s job, and the same with mum playing hockey. I wanted my own sport. So I started watching Arsenal and joined a club in India, playing lots there before shifting over here, where I also decided to study about sports.
“There was no stopping me from there. Football was going to be my career. It will be my first sport. I want to stick with football.”
Lele had even managed to get her family to enjoy football, she said.
A player herself, in Old Boys football club’s women’s team, Lele hoped to be able to do both in 2024. “I hope to be able to play this year as well. I enjoy playing.”
She was also looking after the senior competition this year as well, which she knew would be a challenge.
“It will be a real focus of mine to make sure I do it well.”