Aleeza Raza, a defender born in Australia, has earned a spot on the Fiji U16 team for the upcoming OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Suva, Fiji. The 16-year-old hails from Sydney, with her parents originally from Labasa, Fiji—her mother from Bocalevu and her father from Basoga.
Currently playing for the Southern Districts Raiders FC in Australia, Raza is bringing a strong sports heritage to the team, which is deeply embedded in her family’s background. Football is woven into the culture of Labasa, a town renowned for its ardor for the sport.
In an interview, Raza credited her father, Ali Raza, with inspiring her to pursue football. “My parents inspired me to take up football, especially my dad,” she stated. “Football has been deeply rooted in our family history. My dad asked me to try it out, so we went to the park one day, and it just stuck.”
The family’s love for sports goes beyond just football, as Raza mentioned that her mother’s grandfather was a professional wrestler, contributing to the athletic legacy she aims to uphold. “It feels great representing Fiji; it’s very touchy for me because the passion comes from a long line of ancestors. It makes it a very proud moment for me, my family, and friends,” she said.
Despite the difficulty of acclimating to a different culture, Raza finds the experience at the training camp rewarding. “The culture difference is a challenge; it’s a bit hard to adapt, but everyone has been very helpful to make it easier,” she noted, expressing gratitude for the support from coaches and teammates.
Raza also shared that her family will be traveling from Sydney to support her during the championship.