You Will Never Know Until You Try

Isabella, Namibia

Goal Click and UNICEF UK collaborated on a series that highlights the impact that Soccer Aid for UNICEF has on children around the world. In Namibia, the Galz & Goals program uses football as a tool for social development and to prepare Namibia’s girls for a better future. Galz & Goals is a partnership between the Namibia Football Association and UNICEF. It empowers girls aged 10-15 to make healthy choices. Through their engagement in football, girls’ vulnerability to HIV infection, teenage pregnancy, school dropout and alcohol abuse is minimised as they acquire valuable skills and knowledge to make informed life choices both on and off the field of play. Isabella, 19, has been involved with the program since 2015 and now plays for Tura Magic Ladies FC.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current football life?

My name is Isabella Beaurencia Kahuadi, I am 19 years old. I was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia. I am currently studying at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), majoring in a Bachelor of Human Resource Management. I am currently in my second year of a three year degree. I have been involved with the Galz & Goals program since the age of 11, meaning that my involvement in the program has been for eight years. 

I currently play with Tura Magic Ladies FC in the Women’s Super League with many inspirational women. I was originally playing for Tura Magic’s sister team, Girls Football Academy. But that does not exist anymore, so I graduated to Tura Magic. I am also currently involved in the Namibia U20 Women’s National Team.

What has your football journey been like up until now? 

I got involved in the Galz & Goals program through a daycare/afternoon centre, known as BNC. The actual name is Bernhard Nordkamp Center but is well known as Best Namibian Children. After primary school I used to attend afternoon classes at the centre. There were many different sports and I decided to play football. Wednesdays were always Galz & Goals league days. So each and every Wednesday we had a coach taking us to the technical centre to take part in the league.

My football journey has been amazing thus far, but it came with a few hiccups too. In 2017 Namibia hosted the COSSASA Ball Games, where a number of girls were selected from the Galz & Goals league for regional trials and I was part of that group. I went for Regional trials where there were so many talented young ladies and I loved how they all played. I was amongst the 18 ladies that were selected and we then had to go for National trials. 

I was so afraid of being dropped, I remember telling my mom I would rather just stay away than get cut, but then my mom said to me: “You will never know until you try”. With those words, I went for trials, was chosen for the team and started with training. 

The first day of training I made a mistake and my coach shouted at me. I did not want to even continue with practice that day. That day when I got home, I told my mom and grandmother that I am never ever returning for training again but they both just laughed at me. I had to return for practice the following day, but I stayed watching movies as training approached. When training time arrived, the coach called me and asked where I was. It made me realise that he sees a lot of potential in me and I cannot be a coward and just give up. 

I continued with the rest of the training session and training camp with so much joy and laughter, because I realised that the coach has a golden heart. I am very grateful to him for doing what he did then because that partly shaped me into the young woman I am.

What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning with the photos? 

I tried to capture everything around me concerning football and what my daily life looks like. The photos were taken at various sports grounds in my hometown of Windhoek, Namibia. I also took some photos at NFA Soccer House, at school, and in the streets where the boys were playing what we call “Straat sokker”, which basically means street football. A few of my teammates are in the photos. I showed what we do at practice and during halftime of matches. 

You can also see some little boys playing on a gravel field. I love this so much because it shows how passionate they are about football from such a young age. At home the young boys and girls in the community next to my grandmother’s house where I grew up are always in competition with me, because I tell them they need to get to a higher level than me. They strive to do their very best and I love to see that I play a role in that. 

Why is football so important to you and your community? Why do you think it is important for women and girls to play football?

Football is very important to me because it helped me in so many different ways. Through football I got to meet a lot of new loving and caring people. I met tutors that helped me with school work. I met life skills teachers who explained the world outside football to us and what women can fall into if they do not have something to keep them busy after school, for example alcohol and drug abuse and pregnancy. 

These teachers taught us how to abstain from such behaviours, that we should not associate ourselves with people that do such things, and that instead we can run to the field and play football. So I believe soccer has really been a mechanism which stood between us and the streets. I am so glad I chose this path. I do not have friends who play football, but I have teammates that I met through football who became my friends.

What impact has UNICEF and the Galz & Goals program had on you and your community? Why is the Galz & Goals project important to you?

The Galz & Goals program is important to me because it is a positive barrier when it comes to young girls in the community and the streets. Football helps me a lot when I need to study. Since I exercise and keep fit, it is much easier for me to process my school work. I understand my work thoroughly, so I really love it that I can practise football and do my best in my school.

What ambitions do you have for the future? 

My ambition in life is to be able to say “this is the life I dreamed of”. I would love to dedicate more than half of my time to my books to ensure that I get the future I dream of. Football-wise, I will still be playing and I will continue training. If I ever get the chance to play for the Namibian women’s national team, I will grab it. However it is not really my main ambition.

I do have a dream career outside football and that is in aviation! I have a strong desire to become a pilot. I love planes so much and I am a wanderlust too. I could not pursue my dream due to lack of funds. We all know aviation is quite expensive and the Namibia Students Financial Fund does not fund aviation, so I chose to study Human Resources. Once I complete my degree and get a job, I will save money in order to pursue my dream. 

What do you think the future looks like for football in your community and country? What do you want to change?

I think the future is bright for all upcoming youngsters. The young ones are in good hands! I just feel the country should start taking women’s football more seriously - the same way we do with men’s football. There should be equity in terms of payment too.