Iconic Camp Nou the highlight of her visit

At only 15, Ayesha Moosa ( left) already has an experience that many a footballer would love to have.

The Grade 10 pupil at Nirvana Secondary School in Lenasia was given an opportunity of a lifetime when she was chosen as one of the winners by La Liga South Africa to go and experience the Spanish way of football, including visiting one of the most iconic football grounds in the world, Barcelona’s Camp Nou, a club she admires so much.

Her love for Barca started at a very young age, following the game model of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, before taking a closer look at the likes of Andres Iniesta and Manchester United’s Paul Scholes as she grew up.

A midfielder at Soweto Fabulous Ladies FC in the Sasol Women’s League, Moosa says her interest in football started at the tender age of three and being chosen ahead of many young girls during the trials for the Spain trip is one of her best moments.

“I was only three when I discovered football. I would go to training with my brothers and would run around with a small ball on the ground. But later on I got to join a club when I was about five yearsold,” said the midfielder.

“When I was younger, I always admired Ronaldinho, but as I learned more about the game and the technical side of it I started to follow Iniesta and Paul Scholes.”

Moosa goes on to reveal that the highlight of her trip was visiting Camp Nou as well as meeting RCD Espanyol players. Espanyol are the other team from Barcelona.

“The highlight of the trip for me was definitely going to visit Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona. I’ve supported them from a young age and always appreciated their football. It was honestly a feeling I cannot describe,” she continued.

The midfielder, who has a strong love for video games, is hoping to make the game her career and wants to use everything that she learned during the Spain trip to her advantage and better herself.

“When I grow up I would like to be a professional footballer. I want to take my career to the next level by putting everything I’ve learned this year to good use and hopefully by the grace of the Almighty things will work out,” she said.

“When I’m not playing football, you will find me busy with my PlayStation. I also love outdoor activities and things that interest me a lot are daring activities like bungee jumping, viewing wild animals, fishing and swimming.”

With her focus much on football, the youngster doesn’t discount education as she believes it’s very important.

And as much as she is eager to take to football as a professional career, she knows things might not go as she would like, but she already has a plan.

“If I don’t become a professional footballer, I definitely see myself doing something in the field of sport. I would probably be a sports scientist or a coach that focuses on individual development, but certainly something in sport.”