The VAFA congratulates St Mary’s Salesian speedster Shakira Schifferle after she was named the Anytime Fitness Rising Star nominee for Round 6 following her standout performance during the Saint’s win over Kew on the weekend.

What the club said:

“2019 is Shakira’s first year of football, and she’s come straight into the St Mary’s Salesian senior side in the William Buck Premier Women’s competition.

She played state level netball in the Victorian Netball League with Melbourne University for a couple of years, before taking up football. She was motivated to take up football so she could join her sister Alicia at the Saints.

Shakira is a speedy running player who is particularly quick off the mark and over the first 20 metres. She has an innate ability to navigate through stoppages and congestion and then run and break the lines when released. An excellent athlete, Shakira is a deceptively good mark and has also quickly improved her defensive game working hard to run back and help the defenders.

She’s known around the club as ‘Big Shaq’ and her teammates love her second efforts, and if it’s a footrace then back her in!”

– St Mary’s Salesian