From the dusty fields of Navua to representing Fiji on the world stage in Colombia, Pijila Kilaiwaca’s journey shows young girls that no dream is too big and no town is too small for greatness.
Kilaiwaca says her dedication paid off when she made history as the first female footballer from Navua to represent Fiji at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
She says she was not initially taken seriously by the boys she played against.
However, her determination earned their respect as they began to see just how committed she was.
She says this drive was fueled by the constant encouragement from her mother, who always reminded her that hard work and perseverance would take her far.
Kilaiwaca says whenever she felt like giving up, her mother reminded her of how much she had already achieved and how much further she could go.
She says the road to the World Cup was not easy and she admits there were times she wanted to quit due to the intense training and the challenges of being away from home.
She further says competing on the global stage in Colombia, the experience was not just about football; it was about discipline, teamwork and realizing what is possible when you dedicate yourself fully to your dream.
She adds that outside of football, she also excels as a sprinter, after competing in the 200m and 400m events for Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School.
Kilaiwaca says she is now playing for the Navua Women’s football team.
She says in future, she is determined to keep breaking barriers and creating opportunities for other young athletes and wants to show girls in Fiji that no matter where you come from, with hard work, anything is possible.
[Source: abc.com.au]
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