Soccer Is the Universal Language: Meet FC Harlem Player, Elizabeth

This month, TONL partnered with Nike to profile various coaches and young women in soccer as they demonstrate why diverse representation matters in sport, coaching, and the athlete/coach relationship. Throughout this week, hear from the FC Harlem Lions, a specialized program for talented and committed youth of color ages 10- 19 who often do not get opportunities to pursue soccer development at the highest levels. The number 1 goal of FC Harlem is to help the youth meet their academic and professional goals. The women on this team are "Leaders n Our Neighborhoods" (L.I.O.N.S) so be sure to read the stories of these leading ladies.

Meet Elizabeth!

TONL: So soccer is a heavily dominated male sport. At what point in your life did you feel like you wanted to play soccer?

Elizabeth: Back in Ghana, we do play soccer in the house so when I came here it gave me that much more reason to play soccer.

Okay, nice. Back in Ghana, do you think it's easier for women to play soccer or is it hard?

I think it’s easier.

Really? Yes, because we do play in various houses. And we can use rubbers to make a ball and then we play it in our houses.

Wow, that’s very creative. That’s amazing.

So how has your culture and your gender as a woman played a role in the way you interact with your coaches and teammates?

I think I'm different from everybody because my accent is different from everybody. Sometimes when I’m playing and I scream, they don't understand what I’m saying. But, when they say [something], I do understand them.

Haha!

So what type of body language or what makes them understand you though? Even though you speak Twi, you speak English, it's hard for them to hear the English. So what do you feel makes you more understandable to them? Is it like the way you smile, hugging - like what type of communication?

Umm, because I do crazy jokes, I do say things that make them funny [laugh]. But, I do speak in French for them.

Okay, that's nice.

But, those who can hear me, those who understand French, interpret.

That’s nice. That’s beautiful.

Have you ever had a coach who wasn't a woman of color and how did that affect you?

When you were in Ghana your coaches were all-

Black.

Black- haha. So you come here and your coaches are?

White. I think it’s only one and he is not a lady; he is a man and I think he has the British accent too, so when I do speak, he gets me.

Nice.

So what is a common misconception, like things about people say that aren't true. Like when you think about women who play sports..who play soccer, which one of those things do you want to tackle and make sure it’s untrue?

There are many people that say that ladies can’t play ball because soccer is mainly for men. But, then when I joined this team, I feel like there are more ladies who play much stronger than men. I think it’s good. Every lady should be brave; they should not take that. We can do it because we feel like this is mainly for men, not for ladies. But, since I joined the team, I know that there is no difference between ladies and men; it’s just the gender.

That’s good!

Did you have a role model while you're growing up as far as like a woman soccer player or anybody that inspired you to think that you could play? Whether it was your mom or you said your uncle playing soccer back home?

Umm, back home my cousins do play in the house and then they are a part of the Ghana team.

Oh the women?

Yeah.

Oh, wow. So you have women cousins who play for the national team?

Yeah.

And that inspired you. Wow, wow, wow - that's big. That's amazing. That's great.

That's it. Good job!