Roaring Rams star Leena Khamis ready to go again in 2023
It was a year to remember for the Macarthur Rams in 2022, in particular for veterans Kylie Ledbrook and Leena Khamis.
Ledbrook decided to hang the boots up after an incredible career and winning the Championship with the Rams.
Many thought Khamis would follow suit, but she didn’t, lacing the boots up again, preparing to terrorise opposing goalkeepers for another season.
Spending over 10 years at Lynwood Park, Khamis said she wasn’t quite ready to throw the towel in just yet.
“Well the retirement chat was started by Kylie Ledbrook announcing it would be her last season before she hung up the boots,” Khamis said.
“I kind of got thrown into the equation as well so it made me think about it.
“Towards the end of the season I was always a 50/50 and left the door open whether I was going to go around again or not and I guess this year I made the decision to play another season.
“I needed the little break over summer and I got that, so now I’m looking forward to starting another season.”
Winding the clock back a few months, and the scenes at Valentine Sports Park were unbelievable after an intense penalty shoot out victory in the 2022 NPL NSW Women’s Grand Final against the Northern Tigers.
“Last year meant a lot. We had a goal at the start of the season to make it into the top 4 and once we secured that spot we knew we had the team and the potential to go all the way,” said the striker.
“It had been 4 years since we last won the competition or had even made a Grand Final.”
This season the Rams will look to go back to back, no easy feat, in particular after some personnel changes and knowing it has only been done by one team in the last decade (Sydney University 15’, 16’).
“We’ve had a bit of a team shuffle in terms of personnel, we have a good group of young talent coming through that makes our squad very competitive.
“The goal again for this year is to secure a top 4 spot. Going back to back is never easy and isn’t achieved by many clubs so it will be a challenge but we will definitely give it our best shot,” said Khamis.
