NOT content with busying herself being the first and only female combat engineer diver in the Australian Defence Force, Gabe Marzano somehow finds the time to play in the W-League.
And on Sunday, as the Remembrance Round continues, Marzano has added reason to pause and reflect before her Sydney FC team takes on Western Sydney Wanderers in a double-header at Allianz Stadium.
“As a full-time serving member at the moment, it’s a very special occasion for me,” the 24-year-old said.
“I specialise in army diving, predominantly construction, survey, search and demolitions under water.
“I was, and still am, the only female to complete the army work diver course, which is one (to tell) for the grandkids.
“It’s a fantastic thing that the A-League and W-League have dubbed the Remembrance Round.”
Gabe Marzarno divides her time between a military career and playing for Sydney FC in the W-League.Source:News Limited
Marzano has been serving for just over six years and this year her role is as an instructor at the School of Military Engineering. That’s when she’s not training or playing football matches, a juggling act even her male colleagues find awe-inspiring.
“Even all the boys at work ask me just as regularly,” she said.
“Fortunately enough for me the W-League is typically played during the reduced tempo periods at work over the summer, so I’m given a bit more flexibility to be a full-time footballer at this time of year. By no means is juggling both at any time of the year an easy thing, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“I love doing both and I’m just very grateful and lucky to be afforded the opportunity to do both.”
Still, if it was a real option, Marzano admits she would love to be a full-time, professional footballer.
“I think anyone that has an interest in the game wants to be a professional footballer. It’s an amazing career, but unfortunately for females it isn’t professional,” she said.
“In the meantime, I have stumbled across an amazing career and I love my job.”
Where Marzano is posted by the army dictates her W-League team, which is why she has previously turned out for Perth and Brisbane. But she is hoping for a bit more stability in Sydney in the years to come.
“I don’t think people realise I only change teams because of my posting history. It has required me to re-establish myself every year as a player and try and showcase my ability as a player,” she said.
“It was really hard to get a sniff in at Sydney FC, but I couldn’t be happier with how everything’s eventuated and I’m really grateful to be part of this team.”
Originally published as Sydney star diving into uncharted waters
