SUNNY Franco and Emily Gielnik, of Thornlands, are striking their way to football success.
The pair, along with fellow Redlands footballer Laura Alleway, who toured with the Matildas in the Cyprus Cup this month, played for Brisbane Roar in the FFA W-League grand final against Melbourne Victory in February.
Sunny, 16, also captained the Mini Matildas (Under 17s) last year and is now aiming for selection into the Young Matildas (Under 20s), while Emily, a personal fitness trainer who is currently contracted to the Matildas, will continue playing professional football.
Sunny, a striker/attacking mid-fielder, said she began playing football with Redlands United Football Club at the age of 11 and, despite having played the FFA Westpac W-league season with Roar, didn't expect to be selected for the finals.
"The competition is so tough, but being part of such a competition and strong squad was a good feeling," she said.
Emily, a striker, said she also began her football career with Redlands United and now, during the season, plays for Roar in the W-League and, in the off-season, for the National Premier League Under 15 Boys competition.
She said she debuted with the Young Matildas in Vietnam in 2011, where she scored a hat trick in her first game.
"I play football for love, not money," she said.
"I have my own personal fitness business and my own gym and I'm up at 4.30am every day for fitness and personal training sessions, then coaching during the day and training in the afternoons."
Sunny, who is in Year 12 at Cleveland State High School, and Emily, the strength and conditioning coach for the senior men's team at Redlands United, both train with Roar five days a week at Toowong.
