Rising soccer star’s

By Tania Martin
BELGRAVE soccer star Cordelia Crosbie, 11, has been dealt a cruel blow after the money she was saving for the national championships was stolen.
But despite being devastated by the loss of her savings, the Sherbrooke Ranges Junior Soccer Club goalkeeper has vowed to start from scratch and raise the cash she needs.
Cordelia’s house was broken into on Tuesday, 31 July, shortly after 1pm, where some jewellery and money for her trip to the national championships was stolen.
She has been chosen as the goalkeeper for the under 12 Victorian Primary Schools’ Sports Association team at the national championships in Brisbane next month.
Cordelia needs more than $1400 to make it to the nationals and had $80 already saved when her cash was stolen.
Her father, Simon Crosbie, said he was disgusted that someone could go through a child’s room and steal money.
“It’s disgraceful that someone could do that – steal from a child,” he said.
“I don’t care if they go through my stuff but to steal from my children, it is just not right.”
Mr Crosbie said although nothing big was stolen from the house, it was a real blow for Cordelia to have to start from scratch to raise the money for the nationals.
But Cordelia is determined to make it to the nationals and is getting straight back into raising the cash she needs for her trip.
Rolando Navas of Football Federation Victoria said Cordelia was a very talented and committed player and that it was disappointing that someone could steal from her.
Mr Navas said Cordelia was an amazing player who had shown great potential.
He said Cordelia proved she could hold her own against the boys at the trials for the state team.
“She had to be trialled with the boys because there were no girls her age, but she excelled,” he said.
Mr Navas said Cordelia was more committed than a lot of the boys who tried out for the state team.
“She is very talented and committed to soccer and has a great attitude,” he said.
Cordelia started playing soccer four years ago after seeing an advertisement for the sport in a school newsletter.
Since then she has grown to love the game and hopes to play professionally one day.
Cordelia hopes to win a soccer scholarship to study in America in a few years and is dreaming of one day playing for Australia.
But raising the money she needs to make the trip to Brisbane next month is now her number one goal.
Mr Navas said that the theft would have been a big blow to this star goalkeeper and he hoped to help her with the fundraising.
“It’s such a pity this has happened to her and I wonder if we (the federation) can do anything to help,” he said.
“I will see if we can do something to round up some sponsorship.”