Maria Jose Rojas celebrating her first goal for Adelaide United, against Canberra United, Round 1. Photo: Mike Owen for Getty Images.
There is a sense of excitement at Adelaide with the arrival of well renowned Chile international forward María José Rojas to Adelaide United. With over 44 caps for La Roja and 12 goals, ‘Cote’ says it’s amazing to be back playing in the W-League.
“It’s great to be back playing at a really good level,” Rojas said.
“W-League players are very competitive. I’m very happy to have this great opportunity. Hopefully I’m able to help my team score more goals, perform every game and encourage them. Maybe provide a little bit more of my experience out there.”
Rojas marked her debut scoring the opening goal in United’s 4-3 loss to Rojas’s former club Canberra United.
Rojas’s first made a name for herself in Australia at Adelaide University in the South Australian NPLW. Playing alongside future Matilda Jenna McCormick, Rojas scored a combined 66 goals in the 2016-17 season, helping Uni to the semi-finals in both campaigns.
“For me it was my first two years in Australia. I did really well! *laughs*
“Uni welcomed me really well and I made some great memories with my teammates and coaches at a really good club.
“It was not just great to be able to do that, but also for me I learned how Australians play attack and about the football here.”
“Getting to play with Emily Condon and Jenna was just great and to get to know them. It was kind of my first step that was coming to W-League. I had a great time and it helped me to develop more. I’m always learning!”
“My time with Canberra was really special even though I moved there as an injury replacement,” Rojas said.
“I couldn’t be there for the pre-season and of course the whole season. But it was just really such a professional environment and I’m very grateful to Heather Garriock [Canberra United’s then-coach].
“[Garriock] was a really good coach and not only helped me improve but also believed in my abilities. To believe in my team-mates who were all very professional and welcomed me, which made me feel like I was at home…. I had great memories again and that’s what I remember most.”
Switching back to La Roja, Chile hosted the 2018 Copa America Femenina where they were runners up in the playoffs to Brazil. La Roja didn’t walk away empty handed however. They won the competition’s Fair Play award and qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history.
” I think the Copa America and World Cup will always be the greatest moments [in my career],” Rojas said.
“We played in Chile in front of all my people, family and friends. To perform how we did and qualifying for the World Cup, it will always be in my heart.
“We did really good and it was a great experience. It will be in history for women’s football in Chile and hopefully the next step to keep improving it.”
Unfortunately Chile’s World Cup performance did not see them advance past the group stage but they left with some pride with their first World Cup win 2-0 over Thailand on the final day.
“The World Cup is the biggest stage and something that you work for,” Rojas said
“If you ask me did I expect it to come true? No, I didn’t expect it but it was something I had dreamt of. I always watched the World Cup on the TV and supporting the teams but no, I didn’t expect us to make it there.
“Chile have never been a big country but we did have the talent and I always believed in that.”
“So when the World Cup happened for us, it was something really really special even though we lost but we lost to the number one team, United States, and Sweden – teams that are ahead of us for many years.
“We knew ‘maybe you always go and compete and do your best’ but to see my country there and representing them, it made me grow as a first player and a person. The World Cup provided that experience I needed to keep going and developing on the world stage.”
Rojas soon returned to Adelaide but this time with NPLW SA’s Sailsbury Inter winning the NPLW Shirley Brown Medal as the Women’s Player of the Year for her 24 goals in the 14 game season.
“For me it was something really special because I won’t lie, after my third season in NPLW SA, it recognised my talents and my work.
“It consolidated a little bit more all my years of playing internationally, and I do appreciate that. I worked really hard and 2020 wasn’t easy having to work from home and do double training sessions because I couldn’t go overseas.
“I had to maintain my level, my experience and perform. Sometimes when you are at that level it’s not easy to perform.”
Rojas concluded our chat expressing her personal goals for the season with Adelaide United going forward in 2021.
“It’s difficult but for myself personally I keep working and keep training. For me the main goal is to go to the play-offs.
“To keep performing every game, keep going and keep winning, keep encouraging my team and hopefully we will be up there. We have been developing our young players in such a short time.
“They may still be young but they have more experience now because they are playing W-League for a couple years. I hope that can show this year and we can make the play-offs.
“It would be a dream and it’s not just my dream, it’s our goal.
You never know, anything can happen. You may see us in the final!”
Chile celebrating their qualification to the WC. Photo credit: Rojas’ Facebook Page
