Emma Ilijoski is understandably thrilled about the prospect of another season with Canberra United. She has the security of a two season contract and, thanks to the work done by new Canberra United head coach Njegosh Popovich, Ilijoski will be part of a squad with many exciting off-season additions. Ilijoski has fond memories of her previous experiences with Popovich.
“We went to South Korea for a boys international tournament, Josie Dubbert and I, and he made us feel really comfortable in that team. That’s the first time I was involved with him.
“He’s someone that’s been along my football journey and seen me grow up, I want to keep showing to him and proving that I deserve to be in this environment with my work ethic. He’s definitely a football legend in Canberra and amongst young players in Australia.”
It’s easy to forget that Ilijoski, with all her footballing achievements, is still only 19 years old. There is undoubtedly a long way to go in her footballing story, but the Canberra native has already been on quite a journey.
Ilijoski played junior football at Monaro Panthers and Majura FC before getting scouted for Capital Football SAP (Skills Acquisition Program) when she was 10 years old. Playing in SAP showed her that football could be more than just a recreational activity: it also gave Ilijoski an introduction to Canberra United’s A-League Women team (and Michelle Heyman!).
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“It was probably then, when I started realising that it was possible to take it further, especially seeing the older players, when we were training they were training next to us. It was really cool to see that pathway right in front of me.
“My first year in SAP, after getting scouted and going into that team, we got to be the player mascots. That was the first (Canberra United) game I’d ever gone to, I got to walk out with the player’s hand and I fell in love with it.”
Like many A-League Women players (such as Melbourne City midfielder Rhianna Pollicina and Brisbane Roar forward Mariel Hecher), Ilijoski also spent her youth developing skills on the futsal court. Her initial motivations for playing the game were social, but on reflection Ilijoski is grateful for the opportunities provided by the indoor five-a-side game.
“A bunch of my friends were all enrolling with Boomerangs (a Canberra-based club that plays in the NSW Futsal Premier League and local competitions). I’d played a little bit of futsal before that, but Boomerangs were probably my first proper taste of it. That was so much fun, carpooling with your friends, what more could you want?
“Futsal is something that I absolutely love, if I wasn’t playing outdoor, I would definitely play futsal just because of the speed. I think I’m a different person when I step on the futsal court to be honest, it just brings out a different side of me. The skills that I’ve learnt in futsal are definitely translatable to outdoor and I’m glad that I got to play during a crucial part of my development. Futsal’s something I highly recommend players to do if they can.”
After Capital Football SAP, Canberra United Academy was the next step. The Academy provided Ilijoski with her first exposure to an elite environment, as well as the chance to test herself against players from all over Australia.
“I think I grew so much in that time, there were so many amazing opportunities that you would hear about, like National Championships and going to play games against teams outside of Canberra, which was really cool. At the time, seeing the professionalism was something new to me and a lot of the players as well.”
One of those opportunities was the NTC (National Talent Challenge). Ilijoski was selected for Junior Matildas training camps after impressing at an NTC, and she would end up travelling to Kyrgyzstan in September 2018 for the first qualifying round of the 2019 AFC U-16 Championship. She was also named as part of the leadership group, an honour that she relished.
“Being a leader in the team is something that I’ve always wanted to strive towards, not necessarily wearing the captain’s armband on the day, but just being someone that’s approachable. I was able to lead the team out on my debut, so that was extremely special and gave me a lot of confidence moving forward as well.”
A 100% winning record in both qualifying rounds meant progression to the 2019 AFC U-16 Championship. As preparation for that tournament, the Junior Matildas toured the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu in what was known as the Pacific Step Up Tour. Ilijoski enjoyed an experience that was about more than just football.
“That (the Pacific Step Up Tour) was a bit of a different tour compared to the other ones, where it was more football focused. This one, of course, was great preparation for us going into the AFC (U-16 Championship), but being able to experience those countries on a more cultural level was very eye opening. I think we all left that place as better people, being able to see that part of the world and see how much of an impact we could have on players there. It was all about sports diplomacy and bringing people together through sport. I think we definitely succeeded in that, and it was another incredible experience that I will remember forever.”
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“We are proud to have supported the Junior Matildas ‘Pacific Step Up’ tour of Tonga, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. They have inspired their peers across the region with their sporting prowess, friendship and positivity.” – @MarisePayne #GetOnside https://t.co/uhJthhGkrD pic.twitter.com/Hm3NXzd4pL
— AsOne2023 (@AsOne2023) October 28, 2019
At the AFC U-16 Championship, the Junior Matildas were so close to World Cup qualification. Three AFC nations progressed to the U-17 World Cup from that tournament. In the third place playoff, Hana Lowry’s early goal put Australia in position to qualify, but two late Chinese goals broke green and gold hearts.
Despite that disappointment, Ilijoski was justifiably proud of the team’s achievements.
“The camaraderie and culture that we had within our group was incredible. I’ve never been part of something like that before. We truly did play for each other and our country and our families. In our first game, we really set the tone, getting a draw against Japan and that set us up for the rest of the tournament. Once again, playing teams and styles of play that we haven’t seen before, being able to challenge ourselves against that, I was lucky enough to get good minutes there as well and be part of the whole experience. Unfortunately, we just missed out (on qualification for the U-17 World Cup), but I think it was definitely a tournament that we can all be proud of and it gave us an incredible taste of international football.”
When Ilijoski wasn’t busy with Junior Matildas duties, she was doing something a little bit different back home. For the 2019 NPL Capital Football season, she left Canberra United Academy to play in Gungahlin United’s Under-16 boys team.
A common theme throughout the interview was Ilijoski’s desire to challenge herself. A change of environment and change in position accelerated her development, and Ilijoski exceeded her own expectations by winning the competition’s Player of the Year award.
“I always thought playing with boys was a really good idea, and you see the success of players that have gone into those environments. CUA (Canberra United Academy) had done amazing things for me but it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone. I definitely grew immensely on and off the field confidence wise, playing a new position as well.
“When I was younger I used to dabble in midfield, and that’s where I played for the whole year at Gungahlin, I played six (defensive midfield). I enjoyed that, I would get the ball from one side, switch it to the other and play really simple, because obviously it was difficult for me to take on players and beat them for pace. It grew my game in another way that I can definitely still implement in the position I play now (left back).
“I was going to the awards night, just with my team thinking that we were going to celebrate the success that we had. When my name got called, I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t think that I was standing out, but it was really nice to get that award.”
Ilijoski’s next challenge involved getting very familiar with the Hume Highway. For 2020, she made the switch to the NPL New South Wales competition, signing for North West Sydney Koalas (now known as North West Sydney Spirit).
She would travel up to Sydney for games and one training session per week, while also training with her former teammates at Gungahlin United. Ilijoski wanted to test herself in a new league, and she performed well enough to be named in the Beyond 90 2020 NPL NSW Team of the Year.
“NPL New South Wales was always something that I was aspiring towards. It was going hand in hand with getting older and trying to find that next step, which was naturally the Sydney NPL just because of the volume of players and the quality that’s up here.
“I got in contact with the 1st Grade coach (Gerry Gomez) and he asked if I wanted to have a look at Koalas. I’m so glad I did, I felt really at home and welcome from my first training session. They were really supportive of me, I was still in Year 12 at the time.
“There wasn’t a better club for me to assimilate into the league. I was lucky enough to get good game time and be surrounded by so many incredible players, like Nat Tobin and Sophie Harding.”
Those performances with Koalas in 2020 were enough to get Canberra United’s attention. Ilijoski was “stoked” when she was named in the training squad for preseason, but it would get better before the 2020-21 A-League Women season had even started. She ended up becoming a regular starter as the team in green made the semi-finals.
“I ended up getting a scholarship contract. I can’t even explain the feeling when I got the call. I called my parents straightaway and was so emotional because it was something that I’ve been working towards. Playing for the team that you grew up watching is a feeling that you can’t describe.
“I’ve been given this incredible opportunity, I’m playing next to Kendall Fletcher, I just enjoyed it so much and I think that’s why it was such a successful season in the end.”
Ilijoski didn’t rest on her laurels after that summer and found a new challenge. The 2021 NPL season brought with it another change of club – this time she would be donning the blue and gold of NPL NSW powerhouse Sydney University. Once again she would be a regular starter, although any chance to compete for trophies was ended by Sydney’s 2021 lockdown and the subsequent cancellation of the season.
There would also be non-footballing reasons for the switch, as Ilijoski enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations and Affairs).
“I live on campus as well. Everything is right in front of me here and in a great location.
“Growing up, from when Belconnen United played Sydney Uni (in the NSW / ACT Challenge Cup), I have vivid memories and it would be such a good game. I always saw how much success Sydney Uni had and I wanted to continue that if I got the chance to play (for them). It’s a place that I now call home. That’s a credit to the coaching staff and John Curran (Sydney University’s Director of Football) as well, they welcomed me in and it really feels like a family club.
“I got really interested in it (International Relations) after the Pacific tour. Ever since I was young, I’ve been so interested in learning about different cultures and people. I think this is a perfect way for me to continue that into the workforce as I get older.”
“It was just a perfect way for me to focus on football and still work on something that I’m really interested in. At the end of the day I came to Sydney for football and to be in the best environment possible, but being able to do something like International Relations on the side where I can see a future in it is really exciting.”
Unsurprisingly, Ilijoski returned to Canberra United for the 2021-22 A-League Women season. The team from the nation’s capital couldn’t repeat their success from the previous summer, but she is appreciative of the opportunities provided to her during that season.
“I still had great experiences travelling with a bunch of new players as well. I’m just really grateful to be part of that team, and playing at home in front of my friends and family is obviously an unmatched feeling. In terms of success it wasn’t ideal, but I still felt like I gained a lot from that season and at the end of the day it’s more experience for me.”
The student-athlete lifestyle provided by Sydney University meant that Ilijoski didn’t have to think too hard about who to play for in the 2022 NPL NSW season. She was almost a constant on the left side of Sydney Uni’s lineup, appearing in 21 out of 23 games and helping them win the Premiership.
“It was a very easy decision for me to go back to Sydney Uni, a bit of unfinished business with the team as well. For this year, I’m really disappointed not to make the Grand Final, but it’s still a season that we can be proud of nonetheless, it was nice to get some silverware and show that consistency over the season.
“It’s a club that has so much history and success over the years, which made it feel like our responsibility to uphold that. I’m so grateful to be part of that legacy and I’m sure it’ll be continued in the years to come.”
2022 also brought more national team recognition for Ilijoski. Not only did she make her Young Matildas debut, but she did it in her home city during a two game series between Australia and New Zealand.
“That was absolutely one of the most special feelings, especially being at Viking Park as well, which is where Canberra United played that season. The privilege of putting on the jersey is something that’s hard to put into words, I felt so proud to represent Australia at that level. Knowing my family and friends were in the crowd was really humbling and something I really hold close to my heart.”
Impressively for someone who is still a teenager, Ilijoski is extremely clear about her ambitions. She displays a laser-like focus on personal development, and it is this kind of focus that has taken her to where she is today. However, Ilijoski is acutely aware that there is so much more for her to achieve.
“I really want to be a professional footballer. Full stop. That’s my goal, it’s what I’ve wanted to be since I was young. I want to be on the right path for me, stepping out of my comfort zone and learning as much as I can with each season that goes by. Football is my life. I absolutely love it, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, it’s full of ups and downs, but I think that’s life in general as well. It’s just about riding that and taking what you can from each experience.”
“(Canberra United Academy coach) Matt Moore would always say, ‘It’s not about what you’ve done, it’s about what you do next’. I’ve taken everything that I can from those past experiences and past seasons, and now it’s about taking all of that into what I do next. I really want to play for the Matildas and be a professional footballer. I believe by aiming for the top it will drive me to work to be better every day and enjoy the journey along the way, on and off the pitch.
“Outside of football, I think I just want to experience as much as I can overseas and gain as much life experience as possible. Travelling is something that I absolutely love and I want to see as much of the world as I can.”
Above all else, Ilijoski wants to use her platform as a national league footballer in a way that will both grow women’s football and make the world a better place. Her ability to see the bigger picture means her off-field achievements may one day match her on-field achievements – we wouldn’t be surprised.
“I have career ambitions with my degree too, because it’s something I really see myself doing. I want to make a change where I can and bring people together. It’s just part of my nature, it’s something that I’ve done since I was little, so I really want to see how I can impact the world.
“Climate change is extremely important to me as well, and it’s something I’m really going to work towards this A-League season. There’s a lot of things I’m passionate about that I’m hoping to raise awareness for and get as many people involved as possible.
“We’re playing football because we enjoy it. It’s part of my identity, now it’s part of my family’s identity. We have a responsibility as players to continue that and grow it further. It would be amazing if the A-League games could get crowds like the Matildas. I think for women’s football in this country, there’s so much potential and it’s a really exciting time for us.”
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