GOALKEEPING is not the most glamorous of playing positions on the football pitch.

When a goalkeeper makes errors those mishaps can cost the team goals — and possibly the match. In those situations the hapless goaltender can attract the wrath of teammates, the coach and fans.

On the flip side, when the goalie saves the day, few remember the heroics, and ironically it is the teammates at the other end who get the glory by scoring, or creating that chance to score.

The goalkeeper’s job can be a thankless endeavour but, truth be told, they are quietly the true heroes of the team.

There is a saying in the game that a good defence wins tournaments — and, like it or not, the goalie is the one that holds up that link.

Schenell Goodhall, the young aspiring National Under-15 goalkeeper, is determined to make her mark in the sport operating in that sacred space between the sticks and the range of the 18-yard box.

“I grew up in the community of Tower Hill playing football in the street with the boys and while I was attending the St Patrick Primary School I was [involved] with two sports — netball and football. The coach of the football team saw my potential and asked me to join the team, which I did.

“At the time I used to play centre forward for the team but it was when I was at Excelsior High School I got into the goalkeeping thing. At the time the goalkeeper got injured and I was given the opportunity to fill that space, and I did, and I got to love the position,” shared the former Maverley-Hughenden FC player.

Goodhall says she pushes for excellence as she dreams of one day playing at the very top.

“Everyone has a dream, and I have my dream as well. [One of them is that] I want to represent my country in goal at all the age groups and then move on to the Jamaica senior team. I also want to get a scholarship to a college overseas and, if possible, play professionally. I love football and I want to excel in the sport,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Goodhall knows what it takes to be successful and is already shaping her mind to learn those qualities. As she is aware, the best goalkeepers are good readers of the game who possess a strong sense of situational awareness, great reflex action, steely concentration, confidence and leadership.

She thinks she has a grasp on all of the above.

“My position as a goalkeeper is very important as [is] any other position on the field, as I must prevent my opponents from scoring. I must be alert at all times and must coordinate well with my defenders. Every goalkeeper must keep an eye on what’s happening during a match as a moment of lapse in concentration can lead to disaster.

“If a goalkeeper reads the game well and is always fully concentrating, a team cannot take them by surprise with a hopeful long-shot or quick break. And also, you must be in a good position when corners and crosses come in as, you know, most goals are scored from corners and free kicks,” reasoned the 14-year-old who had stints with Ballaz and Reina’s academies.

Goodhall, who is currently registered with Frasziers Whip Women’s team, was a part of the National Under-15 squad that represented Jamaica at the recent 2022 Concacaf Girls’ U-15 Championship in Tampa, Florida.

“I am currently one of the National Under-15 goalkeepers, and although we didn’t win a game the experience gained was very good. It was also good to interact with girls from other countries as you always will get pointers and will definitely learn more about the game.

“I have just started and so I am learning the fundamentals of goalkeeping, and with the help and guidance from goalkeeper coach Clive ‘Spider’ Wedderburn, I will definitely improve as a goalkeeper,” said Goodhall, who was also a part of the 2022 Excelsior team that won the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/TIP Friendly Society Girls’ Football competition.

Goodhall also recognises others who played their part in her development to this point of her fledgling career.

“Support, guidance and encouragement have also come from my father Sean Goodhall, my mother Tamieka Daniels, my coach at Excelsior Xavier Gilbert, and Mikey Lowe. I thank them for their input as they are the driving force behind me,” Goodhall ended.