Jacynta proud to be part of an Australian revolution

FOR Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, there was never any doubt that Ange Postecoglou would prove a smash hit in Scotland. The Celtic women’s star first encountered her fellow Australian years ago when he coached her elder brother Jeremiah at a youth academy in her native Victoria. But after Postecoglou’s surprise appointment at Parkhead last year, Galabadaarachchi was delighted to be part of an Australian treble on Sunday night at PFA Scotland’s end-of-season awards. The 20-year-old attacker won the inaugural PFA Scotland Women’s Young Player of the Year award with Glasgow City’s Priscila Chinchilla scooping the senior award. With Postecoglou named Manager of the Year and Tom Rogic scooping Goal of the Season for his solo effort against Dundee United in December, it was a fine night for the Aussies. Callum McGregor and Liel Abada scooping Player and Young Player of the Year respectively put the seal on a terrific evening for the Parkhead club. ‘When I heard Ange had taken the Celtic job, I thought he was going to do amazing here because he’s such a great coach,’ Galabadaarachchi (right) said. ‘He coached my brother when he was 15 in the academy in Victoria and the way that Ange coaches and the football he plays, I knew he would do well. I’m delighted to win this award. I actually started off quite slowly this season but then I got into the rhythm of things. ‘I’ve got a great team around me and I could not have won this award without all the girls and all the staff members.’ Galabadaarachchi’s last name (pronounced Gala-bada-arachi) is from Sri Lankan heritage from her father’s side of the family but she is an Under-20s international with Australian’s Young Matildas. She played for Melbourne City, Perth Glory, West Ham and Napoli before Celtic boss Fran Alonso made a move in February 2021 to bring the forward to Parkhead. She has been impressed by the way women’s football is run in Scotland and hopes the game can keep growing. ‘I played in a cup game for West Ham when Fran Alonso was with Lewes FC and he was interested in signing me and got in touch with my agent,’ she added. ‘I like the way Fran coaches and when I heard Celtic wanted me I was like: “Yes, of course”. ‘This is the first year that there has been a professional women’s league in Scotland and you can tell the difference already. It just needs to keep going. Hopefully, we will be treated equally like the men one day but it’s heading in the right direction.’