For this week’s Coaching Spotlight, we visited FC Bardia, one of the newest clubs to join the Macarthur Football family in 2025. Among the many enthusiastic coaches helping to establish the club’s culture, two stand out for their dedication, positivity, and care for their players: Stephanie and Jahin. Both first-time coaches have already shown how passion and leadership can shape not just better footballers, but also better people.
Stephanie - U7's Coach
Stephanie is a classic example of a parent stepping up when her child’s team needed a coach and discovering a brand-new passion in the process. In her first season leading the U7s, she has embraced both the challenges and the joy of guiding young players through their early football journey.
Having played seven seasons herself as a teenager in both mixed and all-girls teams, Stephanie had a base of football knowledge to draw upon, but it was coaching that gave her the greatest fulfilment. She says the highlight of her week is watching her players grow in confidence and skill while smiling and having fun together.
Over the course of the season, Stephanie has noticed her own growth as a coach, too. Her sessions are now more structured, with a focus on both individual skill development and teamwork. One key learning for her has been how to carefully group players during training so they remain challenged but also supported.
Stephanie’s guiding principles are fairness, encouragement, and connection. She makes an effort to know each child personally, to recognise their efforts, and to celebrate their progress week after week. This approach has quickly made her a much-loved coach, admired not only by her players but also by the parents who see the care she brings to every session.
Reflecting on her journey so far, Stephanie says she has developed a true love for coaching and hopes to continue building her skills in the seasons ahead. Her favourite moments come from the little things, seeing her players’ faces light up when she praises them, or watching their confidence bloom when they master something new.
“The best feeling is seeing their smiles when they know they’ve done well. That’s what makes it all worth it.”
Jahin - U11's Coach
Like Stephanie, Jahin is also in his first year as a coach at FC Bardia. After seeing an advertisement about the newly formed club, he felt inspired to get involved. With a playing background from school and university, he had football knowledge to lean on, but coaching presented new challenges. From fluctuating numbers at training to balancing varying ability levels and motivations, Jahin had to quickly adapt.
What helped him most was having a clear vision of the coach he wanted to be: a role model his players could trust, feel comfortable with, and look up to. Over time, he’s developed the ability to understand what motivates each player and how they best learn. By personalising sessions and adjusting his communication style, he’s created a positive environment where all players feel included and able to grow.
With only one training session each week, Jahin’s focus has been on teamwork, steady improvement, and enjoyment. He emphasises small, consistent steps, improving just 1% each week, and celebrates effort as much as outcomes. This approach has not only kept his players motivated and excited to train but also built confidence that shines through on match days.
Jahin values football not only for the game itself but also for the life lessons it teaches. He takes pride in incorporating values like resilience, discipline, and respect into his sessions, knowing these will serve his players beyond the pitch.
“The most rewarding part is seeing them grow as young people. Their confidence, their personalities, and the way they carry themselves, football helps bring all of that out.”
As one of Macarthur’s newest clubs, FC Bardia is quickly building a strong coaching community, and leaders like Stephanie and Jahin are central to that growth. Both have discovered a new love for coaching, and through their encouragement, care, and commitment, they are giving their players the tools to succeed in football and in life.
We are proud to share their stories in this week’s MFA Coaching Spotlight and thank them for their contribution to our football community. We look forward to following their journeys as coaches at FC Bardia.
If you're part of a club in the MFA and would like to nominate a coach to be featured in our MFA Coaching Spotlight series, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact Football Development Manager, Matt Rootsey, at matt@macarthurfootball.com.au.
Let’s continue to celebrate the incredible coaches shaping our football community!
