When Heidelberg United released their games tally for the NPL squad, Les Doumbalis and Luke Byles led the way with 127 and 102 games respectively across all competitions. Yet both paled in comparison to Rita Mankowska, who most recently celebrated her 200th game for Heidelberg against Old Xaverians in the Team App Cup, rounding off the occasion with a goal – a collector’s item for the defender whose main role is to stop goals at the other end.
With the milestone coming via two separate stints having returned to the club after a three-year spell interstate, the former Melbourne Victory player reflects upon her time at Olympic Village, which includes a senior debut as a teen, 2007 WPL Championship success, W-League selection and an American odyssey.
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How did it feel making that 200th appearance for Heidelberg?
It felt pretty incredible to be walking out onto Olympic Park for my 200th appearance for Heidelberg. Both the club and ground itself are rich with history, so it was an honour to have joined the 200 club on home soil, marking my own little piece of history on the map.
Unfortunately it’s not a milestone that you see celebrated too often in the women’s game, partly because of player movement between clubs, but also partly due to the lack of club records available for loyal players to recognise these types of milestones – for this reason I want to thank Heidelberg United for setting the new benchmark in record keeping in Women’s football in Victoria – every player should strive for such an achievement with one club because it really is an honour.
Describe the first time you stepped inside Olympic Village – did you ever think football would play such a big role in your life?
I remember the first day I arrived at the club. I was 13-years-old and was actually just coming to check out their Under 16 girls’ team at the time, which a friend from high school had suggested I come and play for. I loved the sport and had big dreams to represent my state, but at that age I had no idea that either the sport or the club would end up playing such a big part in my life.
That U16 girls’ team ended up being the inaugural reserves squad for the open aged senior women’s team in the Victorian Premier League. I ended up playing the first full 90 for the ressies and then came off the bench for the seniors game too – from that game onwards I never came off the senior team sheet and I guess the rest is history.
How pivotal has the club been in your development – to the point of W-League selection?
I think the club has been an instrumental part of my footballing career over the years. They really supported me to reach my full potential and go as far as I possibly could with it – which ended up being a full scholarship with U.S. NCAA Divison 1 school Campbell University in North Carolina, and then eventually as part of the Melbourne Victory Women’s team at W-League level in Australia.
Without their belief in my abilities, or their courage to throw me into the deep end of senior women’s football at such a young age, I really don’t think I would have reached my full potential. For that reason I owe John Lioupas a great deal of thanks for being an ongoing pillar of support to me throughout my career both on the field and off.
You have been away for a few years, did you miss Heidelberg and try keep up to date with what was happening at the club?
It was bittersweet leaving both Melbourne and Heidelberg in 2012, because I had been at the club for almost 10 years at that point and felt a lot of responsibility as captain of the women’s team to ensure the future growth and success of the team. However, it was time for a new challenge with my career so I accepted an interstate work assignment and moved to Perth. The first year I was away I made sure I knew the results on a weekly basis, but after that it was easier to detach a little and only receive occasional updates on how the girls were doing.
What are some of your fondest memories at Heidelberg?
There is a vast contrast between the two most memorable moments for me at Heidelberg. The first would have to be my first senior game in 2003. We were playing Cranbourne away and ended up losing 6-1, but I still remember setting up our now assistant coach Jamara Maza for that one goal, and even though we lost miserably, we celebrated like we had just won the World Cup – that just goes to show the type of calibre of players that the club bred at the time and still do to this day. It wasn’t only about results; it was about work ethic and mateship.
The second would have to be the day we beat our then club rivals and reigning champions Box Hill to win the Premiership in 2007. To have gone through near Premier League relegation through my earlier years to then going on to win a Grand Final was absolutely incredible. It is still to this day almost 10 years later, one of the best days of my life – and I have a feeling it always will be.
What are some general observations about returning to football in Victoria. How’s it changed since coming back?
Since moving back to Melbourne after three years away, it’s been a really humbling experience.
When I left the club in 2012 I was considered one of the younger players in the team, whereas now I’m one of the eldest – that was probably the first thing I noticed.
The second thing I noticed was that I only recognised about three faces. So leaving the club knowing almost everyone as team captain and coming back being a bit of a stranger was a great thing, because it meant that our club was attracting and developing some great new players. Back then I suppose we were coming towards the end of an era of Grand Finals appearances and didn’t have a lot of young players coming through the ranks, so we needed to rebuild.
Since returning to the Club, I’ve noticed and applauded the fact that we’ve done exactly that. We’ve rebuilt our squad with some exceptional young talent while maintaining the likes of experienced players like Michelle Verzi and Julia Nicolaci. So I guess in summary it’s a really exciting time for the new generation of Heidelberg United FC Women’s football and I’m just so happy to be a part of it. Bring on the next 200!