Aleeza Raza, an Australian-born defender, has been chosen to play for the Fiji U16 team in the upcoming OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Suva, Fiji. The 16-year-old, who was born in Sydney to parents from Labasa, Fiji, is excited to bring her family’s sporting history to the field.
Currently, Raza plays for Southern Districts Raiders FC in Australia. Her family’s strong connection to football is a reflection of the culture in Labasa, a town renowned for its love of the sport. In an interview, Raza credited her father, Ali Raza, as her inspiration to pursue football.
“My parents inspired me to take up football, especially my dad,” she shared. “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.”
Athleticism runs through her family, with her mother’s grandfather having been a professional wrestler, which adds to the legacy Raza is proud to uphold. She expressed her pride in representing Fiji, stating, “It feels great representing Fiji; it’s very touchy for me because the passion comes from a long line of ancestors, our people, and it’s something that is deeply rooted in our family.”
Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new culture and environment, Raza is finding camp life to be 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, appreciating the support from her coaching staff and teammates. Raza also mentioned that her family is set to travel from Sydney to watch her play this week.