THERE may not have been many of a Celtic persuasion who were steadfastly confident that Ange Postecoglou would be a success this season, but then, not everybody has a connection to him like Jacynta Galabadaarachchi.
The Celtic women’s team forward revealed that Postecoglou once coached her brother in youth football back in Australia, and added to the reputation he enjoys in their mutual homeland, she was always certain that he would prove to be a success in Glasgow.
Galabadaarachchi was honoured along with Postecoglou at the PFA Scotland Awards on Sunday night, picking up the inaugural Women’s Young Player of the Year Award, and just like her compatriot, she has proven to be a fantastic acquisition by the club.
“He coached my brother Jeremiah when he was 15 in the academy in Victoria, where I am from,” Galabadaarachchi said. “I’ve not been coached by him but my brother did.
“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 and the way that he coaches and the football he plays, I knew he would do well.”
Galabadaarachchi has certainly done not too badly for herself either since joining Celtic from Napoli back in February of last year, and she is certain that she made the right move in joining a club and league that is heading in the right direction.
“Fran Alonso the coach contacted my agent,” she said. “He actually played against me when I was at West Ham and he was with Lewes FC. It was a cup game and he said he was really interested. I liked the way Fran coaches and when I heard it was Celtic I was like: ‘yes of course.’
“This is the first year that there has been a professional league and you can tell the difference already. It is heading in the right direction. 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.
“I don’t know what the secret is [to my success this year]. 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.”
