Spearheading the attack for the Australian team, Kahli Johnson has detailed her journey to the U20s Women's World Cup, which began with her parents knowing completely nothing about the sport of football.
As the U20 Women's World Cup takes place in Colombia and Australia look to earn their first victory of the tournament against Cameroon, Zero Digital Sports spoke exclusively to Kahli Johnson about her journey to the World Cup and what is driving her to emerge victorious.
Revealing that her parents knew nothing about football, Johnson has become a talent to behold. The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the best-attacking talents in Australian women's football ever since she represented the Junior Matildas for the first time at the age of 14.
One of only a few members in the squad to appear in her second U20s Women's World Cup, Johnson spoke to Zero Digital Sports about her unique journey to representingย the Young Matildas.
"It's a feeling I'll probably never fully get used to just seeing a name on the back of that jersey," she told this publication about wearing the Australian shirt.
"It's something I'll cherish for as long as I can have it. Growing up, you're watching them away in World Cups and the Olympics, and it's something you kind of always wish you could do, and it's in the back of your mind every time you go and train.
"I think (my journey) is a bit different from others. None of my siblings play sport, and my parents knew nothing about football.
"I think one of my friends did it back when I was like three of four, and I just kind of needed to get all my energy out. I remember Mum kind of telling me I just needed to run around and I'd be tired enough at the end of the day.
"I just loved it so much, and then it kind of got to the point where I was like, all right, do you want to take it seriously?"
Originally from the Northern Beaches, Johnson was an avid runner during her younger days when she represented New South Wales in cross-country. However, she has since moved on from both the sport of running and living in Sydney.
Instead, she moved out of her home to Victoria at the age of 18 after signing with Western United, living with teammates Sydney Cummings, Hannah Keane and Hillary Beall - all of whom are quite older and foreign to Australia, having originally been from the United States of America.
"It was a great experience. As a young kind of kid first time moving out of home to live with girls who had international experience it was like 'WOW'," she added.
"Being able to live with girls that you've played with, you just get that kind of close relationship and that's really cool.
"We had Thanksgiving one year cause they're obviously American, so we hosted a team Thanksgiving which was pretty fun getting exposed to that as an Australian."
Now, Johnson has one goal in mind and that is eventually representing the Matildas, "I'm definitely hoping to get there one day, that's the end goal."
Idolising Matildas forward Caitlin Foord and looking up to her, Johnson made 12 appearances in an injury-plagued season for Western United in the A-League, in which she managed to score three goals and impress every time she came onto the field.
"She's in the form of her life and she's playing really well which in pleasing," coach Leah Blaney toldย Zero Digital Sports.
"She's a more mature player. She's been to a Youth World Cup before, so we're just looking to see her put it all together and take up a little bit more of a leadership role in terms of she knows what to expect."
After being defeated by Colombia and Mexico, Australia will face off against Cameroon on Saturday at 8:00 (AEST) in their final match of the tournament.
