Sixteen-year-old Annie May, the captain of the Fiji Women’s U-16 team, is filled with pride as she gears up for her second chance to represent her country in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship taking place in Suva, Fiji.
As she leads her young teammates, May feels both honored and exhilarated to play in front of a home crowd that includes her family and friends. “It’s an honor to be part of the squad and to captain the team. It’s amazing to represent the country with your mum, dad, and the home crowd watching,” expressed the Savusavu native.
May also emphasized the strong camaraderie within the team, particularly during challenging times. “The girls are doing pretty well in camp. Whenever they get homesick, we always come together and encourage each other,” she noted.
Reflecting on her journey in sports, May shared that her first love was rugby, a popular sport in her community. “For me, all I did growing up was watching rugby, but I do not have the right body to play at that level, so I tried football and it was amazing,” she explained.
The unwavering support from her family and village has been instrumental in her athletic career. “Mum and dad have always been supportive, along with my village, grandparents, and friends,” May added, expressing gratitude for the encouragement that has helped her progress in football.