Switching Schools For Football
Alisi Laniana Qereqeretabua is the youngest member of the Vodafone Fijian Women’s football team.
The 16- year-old from Vatusila, Nadroga, had to make many sacrifices in her attempt to make the squad.
And she is grateful it has now paid off.
“I attended A.D. Patel College in Ba but after being named in the training squad, I had to pack all my things and change schools to D.A.V College in Nabua,” Qereqeretabua said.
“It was hard at first adjusting to the new school but it has now all paid off.” Qereqeretabua said she was lucky to have her friends and family’s support.
“It takes hard work and determination and one thing that kept me strong was my faith in God,” she added.
Qereqeretabua will feature in Fiji’s match against Vanuatu next Friday in the OFC Nations Cup Qualifiers at Churchill Park, Lautoka.
Fiji will play Solomon on August 27 and final match against American Samoa on August 30 at Churchill Park, Lautoka. The winner from the qualifier will join Tonga, Cook Islands and New Zealand in Pool B while Pool A comprised New Caledonia, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti.
The OFC Women’s Nations Cup tournament will be held in New Caledonia on November 18 to December 1.
The tournament will serve as the Oceania qualifiers to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the champions qualifying for the World Cup in France.
Moreover, they will also qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics women’s football tournament, as long as they are a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).