To fulfill hers father’s dream of representing Fiji in football,14- year old Aneshia Ratnam is here in the country to give her best in the trials for the Vodafone Fiji U16 Girls’ team for the OFC U16 Girl’s Championship in Tahiti next month.
The central midfielder believes her passion and love for football will make her represent her country of birth.
“I was born here in Fiji and my parents dream was for me to play for the country since I started playing football at the age of five years,” said Ratnam
Ratnam said she was here to fulfil their dreams.
“I am here from New Zealand to do my best in trials and confident that I will make it to final cut,”
“Though it is not easy as there are lot of capable players but I will showcase my talent and will fight for the position I play, “she said.
“I play for Ellerslie AFC in New Zealand and my dad always wanted me to play for my home country and here I am and hope to make my debut in the OFC U16 Girl’s Championship,”Ratnam said.
The Year 10 student of Epsom Girls Grammer High School said her brother and dad inspired her to take on football.
“My dad Samuel Ratnam and brother Athan Ratnam are good football players and through them I generated my interest football because I used to go and watch them play on Saturdays and that was how my interest and love for football grew,” she said.
“Whenever we were free we used to play in our backyard and then my dad show my caliber and took me for the trials with Ellerslie FC and I kept playing football,”
Ratnam said only challenged she was facing here was the language.
“The only challenge I face in camp is that most girls speak Fijian language and I do not understand or else everything is very good here,”
She said she was happy to make new friends and would learn a lot while her stay in Fiji.
“I was welcome with open arms by my teammates when I reached here last week and now we are bonded as a family,”
When asked if she failed to make it to the final 20 member squad, Ratnam said she was still 14 and would try next tournament.
“If I fail to make it this year I am sure I have another chance and will surely make it than.
Her advice to young footballers are to train hard and go for your dreams. Play with your heart and be passionate of whatever you do.
The Vodafone Fiji U16 Girls’ team is will leave our shores next week.
