Soccer superstar from NSW, Belinda Cincotta, explains that she “didn’t start young” in soccer, only beginning to play in her first year of high school.
“Probably in my third year, I realised I wanted to keep going with it. I was getting better, which was good. Everyone else started to leave, all my friends that joined with me were leaving, but I kept wanting to do it, and I kept following what I was doing,” she said.
After receiving an invitation to trial with NSR Australia, Belinda decided to “do it for fun”, thinking she “wasn’t going to make it”.
“I thought I might as well try it, have some fun, go to the trial and see what it’s like, and just do something different. I got accepted from there,” she remembered.
After a whirlwind experience trialling and getting accepted into the NSR program, Belinda has excitedly accepted an offer from Jacksonville College in Texas.
“I can’t wait. I’m very excited. I’m a little nervous, but I’m not scared, which is good,” she admitted.
Belinda shares that she’s most looking forward to becoming “more fit and athletic”, and pursue her soccer journey, as well as studying an early education degree.
With a calm assurance, the young talent admitted that she feels extremely comfortable about the whole situation, especially after establishing a connection with her future coach and teammates.
“I’ve skyped with the coach a couple of times and he’s explained a lot of things. He emailed us all the international students, and put us all in one email, so we know who was going,” she shared.
“We’re all actually in constant contact now, with Facebook.”
“I’m a lot happier now knowing that I’ve got people there that I’m going to be able to get along with, so it’s good to know people that are the same as me,” she explained.
The young star excitedly revealed that she will be living in a two-story dorm room with her soccer teammates, and can’t wait to decorate her dorm room.
Aside from making incredible friends, Belinda can’t wait to explore the rest of the US, revealing that she has never been outside Australia before.
“I’d love to travel during my free time, and see what it’s like. The most important thing is food. I’d like to try the food over there, it’ll be great…Their barbeque is apparently really good!” she said.
We can’t wait for you to have the adventure of a lifetime, Belinda!