“ If I didn’t play for the Yappas, I wouldn’t play soccer.“ - Frenchwoman Melissa Djafar; midfielder and goalie for the NT Yappas.
Frenchwoman Melissa Djafar grew up in a soccer mad region in southern France. She practised the sport at a young age at a high level and got preselected to play for the French national side in the under 17’s and under 19’s but had to interrupt her sporting career due to injury.
Melissa moved to Australia about 8 years ago and settled in Darwin where her talent and expertise were picked up by The NT Yappas, a Darwin based Aboriginal Women’s soccer club that’s one of the top teams in the FNT women's Premier League.
This Friday September 17 the NT Yappas are clashing with the AC Hellenic in the 2021 NT semi-finals. Melissa Djafar strongly hopes her side will win and continue their run for this year’s coveted title.
“Even if we don’t win, I hope that people are going to watch us because those girls that I play with, the Indigenous girls, the whole team, they are worth watching. They are worth everything. They are amazing,” Melissa Djafar said ahead of the clash.
Kicking off at 6.30 AEST this Friday September 17 the semi-final game between the NT Yappas and AC Hellenic game will be streamed live on the NITV Facebook page and SBS On Demand. The match will be rebroadcast on Sunday 19 September 2:30pm on NITV Ch:34.
