Adelaide University striker Maria ‘Cote’ Rojas has been labelled as a ‘key player’ in Chile’s Copa America campaign ahead of this weekend’s friendly against Peru.

Cote’s call up to the Chilean national team is on the back of her goal scoring form in the Women’s National Premier League here in Adelaide.

Cote was a granted a Distinguished Talent Visa in 2016 by the Australian Government. She is one of very few professional football players to receive such a recognition from the government for her international record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in football.

Hear about Cote’s return to the national team in the video below.

Led by technical director José Letelier, the Chilean women’s team begin their preparations for the Copa America in Chile 2018 with a friendly against Peru at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Cote has been labelled as one of the squad’s key players alongside fellow compatriots, Christiane Endler and Yanara Aedo of Spanish side Valencia FC.

Social media has caught fire with news of Cote’s inclusion in the Chilean squad.

“Cote is an example of excellence in women’s football. There is no better”

“She is to be feared in the area”

“Cote Rojas the Great!”

Battling the rain and cold temperatures in South America, the squad has been consolidating attack and defensive strategies this week, while also working on play in confined spaces.

Kick-off against Peru is Monday morning at 4am.

Maria Jose Rojas Pino (Cote) is a professional soccer player with an international professional soccer career spanning 13 years in four countries. Cote has also been a member of the Chile National Team since 2004.

• The Chilean National Team since 2004 – present
• NCAA (division 1) in the USA
• W- League USA
• Frauen Bundesliga Germany
• Chile Copa America National Team – named as a top player in the 2017/2018 squad.

Photos courtesy www.anfp.cl