Goalden opportunity
All’s Wells that ends Well: A dream to gain a soccer scholarship in the United States has become reality for Gisborne teenager Tamara Creswell-Wells, who heads to Colorado College next July.
Chris Taewa
GISBORNE teenager Tamara Creswell-Wells has netted the most vital goal so far in her quest for a career in football.
The 18-year-old has accepted a four-year soccer scholarship at Colorado College and heads to the United States in July.
It is the realisation of an ambition dating back to the football fanatic’s first year of high school and she still can’t quite believe it.
“It almost hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Creswell-Wells, back home after a year studying design at the University of Victoria.
The former Gisborne Girls’ High student made an impression as part of a New Zealand age group development squad who competed in the States a couple of years ago.
Several universities showed interest in the diminutive midfielder before she decided on Colorado where she will study fashion and animation design on top of her football.
Her course fees, accommodation and food are paid for.
Creswell-Wells, the daughter of John Wells and the late Juliet Creswell-Wells, has come through the grades since taking up the game as a six-year-old.
She got so “nuts” about it she chose to attend Gisborne Girls’ High because it had the best team.
Gisborne and federation age group representation followed and she also made the Central side for the 2007 National Women’s League.
Living in Gisborne, however, made it a constant battle to be recognised.
The decision was made to complete her seventh form year at Auckland Dio “in order to be noticed” and her leadership skills saw her rewarded with the first 11 team captaincy.
Creswell-Wells made the New Zealand under-17 squad and was on track to be part of their 2008 World Cup campaign only to suffer a serious ankle injury playing for Gisborne Thistle at a tournament in Palmerston North.
She was out of action for several months and forlornly watched the World Cup from the sideline.
That doused flame has been replaced by another, with Creswell-Wells in the extended New Zealand under-20 squad building towards the qualifying stages of the 2010 World Cup in Germany.
She tasted more success this year as a member of the Wellington Marist team who won the Wellington premier women’s league and was one of the league’s top goalscorers. She was also named in the New Zealand universities team at the 2009 Uni Games in Taranaki.
The catalyst to her advancement has been “attitude”.
“It’s all about attitude. I was a little nuts about the entire “football” thing until I got to 15-16.
“I went through a phase where my attitude went a little downhill. I got used to my name being a regular in rep and New Zealand teams. I got a little too comfortable, I got a bit lazy.”
“About a year ago I snapped out of it. I realised what I wanted to do.”