Young Talent Joins National Women’s U16 Team, Balancing Swiss Roots and Island Heritage
At just 16 years old, Alysha Barbara Wini has already carved out a promising path in football. Born to parents Lynnold Wini and Christina Kuper Wini of Malaita, Makira and Western heritage, Alysha moved to Geneva, Switzerland when she was only two years old. Despite her Swiss upbringing, her roots remain deeply tied to the Solomon Islands, a connection that recently opened doors for her to join the national women’s Under 16 provisional team.
Alysha’s love for football began unexpectedly. Her younger brother, like many boys his age, was passionate about the sport, prompting their mother to encourage Alysha to join him.
“I was six years old, playing among four and five-year-olds. I was the oldest in the group,” Alysha recalls. Although she initially showed little skill or talent, her persistence and enthusiasm set her apart. At age ten, Alysha’s understanding of football began to deepen.
“I realized I could run, ask for the ball, pass, and dribble. It made me very excited and pushed me to continue,” she says.
Her parents suggested she try basketball, but Alysha’s growing interest in football kept her on the pitch. Her dedication paid off when she joined her first football club Versoix in canton Geneva, Switzerland, playing in the Under 12 team and quickly moving up to the Under 15 team before transferring to the US Terre Sainte (USTS) a football club based in the Terre Sainte area of the canton of Vaud.
Alysha’s journey was not without its challenges. Her father initially felt discouraged by her lack of early talent. However, he firmly believed in giving her the same opportunities as her brother.
“Let her play, I will not have my daughter watch from the sideline,” her mother insisted.
With the support of dedicated coaches who nurtured her confidence and skills, Alysha gradually blossomed into a capable player.
By the age of 15, Alysha had become captain of her U15 girls’ team and was serving as an assistant coach for the U12 girls.
Her commitment and hard work culminated in a historic victory for her club, USTS FC, which won the Women’s BVC Cup 2024 in Canton Vaud for the first time.
Additionally, Alysha played a crucial role in helping her Swiss team, USTS, get promoted from the 4th league division to the 3rd and now the 2nd league division before she came over for her holidays.
“I will not be joining the team for the 2nd league division because I’ll be on a one-year study program in Germany,” she explained to further expand her horizons both on and off the field.
Alysha may not have been a naturally gifted player, but her journey highlights dedication and perseverance.
“I was very surprised to be invited to join the Solomon Islands Women’s U16 team – a national team? Wow! I’m surprised, and a bit nervous. I don’t know how football is played here, the style and so on because I watched the Solomon Islands national team matches and it’s a bit different from European football,” she says.
“I arrived for my holidays and I got the opportunity to train with Frigates United FC in the Solrais Women’s Premier League (SWPL) and I got to learn and enjoy it.”
Alysha is eager to embrace this new chapter.
“If this is how Solomon Islands football is, I want to go for the national trials. I’m very much looking forward to this opportunity – to learn and add on – I want to show how we play and share ideas for the development of football in the Solomon Islands. Supporting girls in football is something I’m very passionate about,” she says with pride.
SIFF Technical Director Moses Toata acknowledges the importance of offering opportunities for overseas-based talents like Alysha.
“We want to make them feel like the national team belongs to everyone – they can come and play for the national team at any time they wish. We invited Alysha knowing she’s in the country not only to know the players in the team but to be familiar with the environment – and to feel that she belongs to this country – that belonging to represent the country,” Toata explains.
In the provisional list, Alysha joins New Zealand-based Bella May Fa’arodo, the daughter of former Solomon Islands most-capped captain, Henry Fa’arodo Jr., in a 30-player team.
As women’s football continues to grow in the Solomon Islands, Alysha stands as an inspiring example of dedication and the pursuit of passion, ready to contribute to her team at the national level.
This article was first featured via SIFF Website. You can access the originial article here
