Written By Ahmed Jbeili

It has been an incredible 7 days  for two NSR Kanga Cup Alumni as Canberra United striker Ashleigh Sykes was named as the Westfield W-League’s top Player last week, and Canberra boy Nikolai Topor-Stanley captained the Western Sydney Wanderers in their third Hyundai A-League Grand Final on Sunday.

Canberra United’s Ashleigh Sykes was awarded the 2016 Julie Dolan Medal for the Westfield W-League Player of the Year at a glittering awards ceremony in Sydney last Tuesday night. It caps off a fantastic season for Sykes who scored seven goals in thirteen matches, her best yearly return for the nation’s capital team. It’s an amazing achievement for the proficient striker, who was an Under 15s MVP in the 2007 Kanga Cup for the Dubbo Devils. Sykes is now currently playing with Japanese club side Athletic Sports Harima Albion in the Nadeshiko League Division 2.

Canberra born Western Sydney Wanderers defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley this week captained his side to the 2016 Hyundai A-League Grand Final against Adelaide United where his team were unfortunate to lose 1-3. Topor-Stanley, who holds the record for the most games played for the Wanderers, made his third Hyundai A-League Grand final appearance when he led the Rad & Black onto Adelaide Oval.

The towering and strong centre-back, who has also made four appearances for the Socceroos senior side, played in the NSR Kanga Cup as a Tuggeranong United junior. The former AIS and ACTAS defender was also voted into the 16-man squad named in the 2016 Professional Football Australia’s (PFA) Team of the Year.  He finished his playing days with the Belconnen Blue Devils before moving to Sydney to play for Manly United in 2005.

Who will be next from our illustrious list of former NSR Kanga Cup attendees to make their mark on the World Game? Who knows, it could be you!!