Grace Jale
Grace Jale (born 10 April 1999) is an association football midfielder who plays for the New Zealand women's national football team.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Grace Joanna Ella Jale | ||
Date of birth | 10 April 1999 | ||
Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019– | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | ||
National team‡ | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016 | New Zealand U-17 | 3 | (0) |
2016 | New Zealand U-20 | 3 | (0) |
2018– | New Zealand | 2 | (4) |
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 March 2019 |
Early life
Born and raised in Auckland to a Fijian father and New Zealand mother, Jale started playing football (soccer) at age 7.[1][2] She attended Mt Albert Grammar School where she helped the team to a national First XI championship. She also played for the Eastern Suburbs premier women's team.[3] During her first year playing for the Bay Olympic Club Team, she was named Player of the Year and was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.[3]
Career
International
Jale made her debut for the senior national team and scored her first international goal during a match against Tonga at the 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup.[1] She previously represented New Zealand on the under-17 and under-20 national teams.[1] She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papa New Guinea.
Club
In August 2018, Jale was offered a contract with Czech first-division club AC Sparta Praha,[4] but opted to attend and play for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States.[5]
References
- "Grace Jale relishing senior debut tournament". WN.com. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- "Football Fern's Grace Jale looking for more game time in Noumea". OFC Football. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- "Exams first for schoolgirl star". New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- "Grace Jale offered European football contract". Mount Albert Grammar School. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- "Da Luz Welcomes Seven on Signing Day". Wake Forest University. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.