Kahli Johnson made the “daunting” decision to relocate to Western United. Now she is flying for the Liberty A-League leaders, but there is so much more to the Young Matilda, writes Sacha Pisani.
“I remember having a moment where I was kind of driving down and like ‘wow, I’m actually doing this’,” Kahli Johnson recalled.
That moment? The nine-hour journey down the highway to relocate from Sydney to Melbourne. All to be a part of Western United’s historic first season in the Liberty A-League.
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Leaving home is daunting for anyone, let alone a teenager. The 19-year-old, however, did exactly that prior to 2022-23.
“It was definitely scary but the club has really helped me, and making me feel comfort. Honestly, it really has paid off,” Johnson told KEEPUP, with the attacker set to miss Western’s next two games due to AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying duty.
“I think it was something I knew I wanted to do eventually. I knew I wanted to play football in different cities. Being able to move to a club like Western where it was this special opportunity – coming into their debut season.
“I spoke to Mark [Torcaso] and really liked the sound of the club’s values. It sounded like a cool opportunity that doesn’t come up too often.”
She does have a bone to pick with the city of Melbourne, though.
“I like Melbourne, I do. The two (negative) things I will say are the weather and the fact there’s no beaches where I live. I’m used to beaches so it’s been a bit of an adjustment,” Johnson laughed.
But weather and beaches aside, swapping Sydney FC for Western has paid off. The Young Matildas star has enjoyed a breakout season with the new team on the block, starting seven of her 13 matches this term. She did not start any of her five appearances for the Sky Blues in 2021-22.
Johnson also opened her Liberty A-League account thanks to last week’s memorable double. As Western made a statement with a club-record 6-0 drubbing of Newcastle Jets, she scored twice having had the most shots of any player (14) without scoring in 2022-23, prior to Round 15.
“Before the game I felt pretty normal, like going into any other game. It’s always sort of in the back of your mind wanting to score your first goal and obviously it being my first A-Leagues goal, it’s something that I’ve thought about a lot and dreamed about for a long time,” Johnson said.
“It’s always kind of there but not my main priority going into a game.
“Coming on and then being able to score twice was pretty amazing and special for me. After the game it was a bit of relief to just get those off the mark and get the ball rolling. But also a lot of excitement.
Scoring my first goal is something I’ve dreamt about for a long time. Being able to do that was pretty special. Obviously scoring two was pretty cool.
The person behind the player
The fact the Young Matildas star stepped out of her comfort zone to progress her career typifies the sort of person she is.
Having recently completed high school, Johnson is still discovering who she is. But there’s already one passion that she could pursue at the end of her career.
“I do enjoy coaching, so I get to do that sometimes. I love spending time with kids and coaching them,” she said.
“I think I was very lucky in the club I came from in Sydney – Manly United – that I was given the opportunity to coach some of the younger kids. I’ve always really enjoyed it. It’s definitely something I would potentially look at doing in the future.
“At the moment, obviously my focus is on playing. But it’s a big enjoyment of mine.”
The mentors
When Western announced Johnson’s arrival, Torcaso labelled it an “extra special” signing.
She has always been highly rated within Australian football circles and youth national teams. While Johnson does not model her game around anyone specific, there have been some inspirations along the way.
“Being from Manly United, Remy Siemsen was someone I looked up to in the beginning because she was very, very successful and was doing what I wanted to do eventually,” Johnson added.
“Moving through, you look at some of the Matildas – Chloe Logarzo, Hayley Raso, those in similar positions and I definitely looked up to them as well. I would say more recently someone I’ve looked up to in this past period is Jess McDonald.
“Being able to play alongside her and see what she’s done has been amazing. Definitely someone I look to for guidance and seeing how her career (has progressed).”
The league leaders
Western’s has been the most extraordinary story of the Liberty A-League this season. In their inaugural season, United are six points clear atop the table, though Sydney FC have two games in hand ahead of their blockbuster date with the reigning premiers on Sunday.
For much of Western’s team, this is their first time in the Liberty A-League. And while many have waited for the wheels to fall off, Mark Torcaso’s underdogs continue to prove their doubters wrong.
“At this point, people may realise we’re here and we’re here to stay,” Johnson said.
“It’s a special group of girls. We all play for each other. We fight for each other. We have a strong winning mentality. It’s a special club culture. We love proving people wrong.
“At the start of the season, all the predictions were we weren’t going to be that high up the table. We started knocking off wins.
“It was cool to see us get to the top of the table and stay there. We knew we could do it and we knew we could stay there. Although some other people didn’t, I think we’ve proved people wrong and continue to do it. We aren’t going to stop doing it.
We’re not just here by fluke. We’re winning these games because we’re a good team.
The long-term ambitions
When it comes to Johnson, she has a vision.
In her words, she has “some solid goals” that she wants to reach in the future.
The Matildas are the dream but becoming just the second Australian to play senior football for her beloved club from the United Kingdom, and the first woman to do so, is at the forefront of her ambition.
It is all part of a “unique” journey.
“Going to an Olympics, a World Cup… that sort of thing. But then also, on the career side, I really want to play in England,” Johnson said.
I’ve always been a Manchester United fan, so playing for Manchester United.
There are three Matildas in Manchester, but Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler and Alanna Kennedy all play for rivals City.
“Playing in the Champions League. I want to play in many different countries,” she added. “I want to be able to use football to take me around the world because I think it’s such a unique thing not many people get to do.”
The U20 World Cup and Australia’s ‘exciting’ future
Johnson and the Young Matildas will embark on AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying this week.
For Johnson, she is one of the senior members of Leah Blayney’s squad in the Kyrgyz Republic, having been part of the unforgettable FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica last year.
She started two of Australia’s matches at the showpiece event.
“It was something I’ll cherish for a long time. It was an incredible opportunity, something not a lot of people get to do and not a lot of Australians have gotten to do for a really long time,” she said.
The upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers means Johnson will have represented Australia at youth level in each calendar year since 2018.
“It’s something I’ll never take for granted,” she reflected. “You can play for teams, if it’s your childhood team that’s pretty cool.
“But representing your country, knowing you’re going overseas and playing against other countries… people would do a lot to be able to do that.
Every time you get that call-up or get to put on the jersey, you kind of take a moment to yourself and go ‘wow, this is pretty cool’.
Australia’s Asian Cup roster is stacked with Liberty A-League talent, with 19 of the 23 players plying their trades in the competition.
Melbourne City’s Daniela Galic, Johnson, Melbourne Victory defender Jessika Nash, Sydney FC midfielder Shay Hollman, Canberra United keeper Chloe Lincoln and Western Sydney’s Alexia Apostolakis are among the Australia-based players linking up in the Kyrgyz Republic to face Guam and the hosts in Group C of the Round 1 qualifiers.
“A lot of them have A-League Women experience already which is special I think for an U20’s team at this moment in qualifiers,” she said.
“It shows everyone the talent that is coming through at the moment and how exciting that is for the Australian women’s football game. Seeing all these players and how well they’re doing.”
The Liberty A-League and Matildas
Like many, Johnson was a keen onlooker as the Matildas got their hands on the Cup of Nations last month.
It was a success built around Liberty A-League stars, with Sydney FC’s Cortnee Vine further cementing her status as a regular starter, while Western Sydney Wanderers captain Clare Hunt looked right at home following her debut.
Seeing the A-League Women contingent flourish on the international stage has provided encouragement for Johnson & Co.
“It shows how the level of the league is progressing. It’s very exciting for me, working my way up to that end of it now,” she said.
Very exciting for the future in hoping to get to that level and knowing that is a good place to be. It’s helping me move in all the right directions.
