IPOH: “I am a fan of Lionel Messi and I want to be a top professional female player one fine day,” said Nur Aleeya Redzuan, 11.
The standard five pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Ampang here is one of only 32 participants chosen to head to Barcelona, Spain to take part in an international training programme under the Kem Bola Astro 2018 from November 24 to December 4.
The third child out of four siblings who hails from Bandar Baru Pulai is also one of 16 female players and the sole representative from Perak that has made it to the programme’s international level.
Aleeya actively took up football since she was eight years-old and she showed intent after taking part in Ipoh City Council’s Soccer Kids Club, as she pushes towards her dream of becoming a top professional female player.
“My teachers, friends, and parents have always supported me and urged me on to develop my interest in the game,” she said when met after receiving a special achievement award and certificate of appreciation at her school here earlier today (Friday).
Aleeya added that she is all fired up and determined to learn as much as she can during her time in the training camp, pointing out that she will divide her time very carefully between studies and playing football.
“I am very happy to have been chosen to go to Barcelona, and I am very grateful, so I will make my parents, school, coach and everyone that has supported me all this while as proud as can be.
“As preparation before heading for the international training camp, I will allocate at least an hour if possible to train at the Ipoh field after school daily,” Aleeya pointed out.
Meanwhile, Aleeya’s father, Redzuan Ahmad, 43, said that his daughter began showing a keen interest in the game after constantly watching televised matches from the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga.
“My daughter loves football and when she got the opportunity to join a club, from there she learnt bit by bit on the technical aspects of the game, the understanding needed between teammates and then she began to take part in age group tournaments from the time she was eight years-old.
“The highlight for her was getting past the trials in Shah Alam last August and then going on to being selected to join the international training camp,” said Redzuan proudly.
Meanwhile her mother, Aini Azlinda Hamzah, 44, said that Aleeya showed a very keen interest as well as the skills to play from when she was very young and they have fully supported their daughter ever since.
“Aleeya’s identical twin sister Nur Aleesa is also active in sport as she has taken up playing lawn bowls.
“In the future, we hope that our daughters can study at a top sports school and we will continue to do whatever we can to make sure that they are able to succeed,” stressed Aini Azlinda.