Like many of her teammates, this will be Merina’s first trip outside of the country. Here’s what she has to say about her football experiences and what she’s looking forward to about the tournament.
Who is your favourite footballer?
Ronaldinho of Brazil. He is outstanding.
What inspired you to become a footballer?
The thing that inspired me was seeing other young women play football. They led the way and showed us that we too can play football just like the men. Football is the number one sport in the Solomon Islands and you can’t help but get interested in it because it is everywhere.
What will be the biggest challenge about the OFC U-17 Women’s Championship?
This will be the first time for me to travel overseas so it is a bit scary for me. However, I intend to put this behind me and focus on getting the results that the team wants.
How does it feel to be selected to represent your country?
I was very happy when I saw my name in the final listing. I am the first in my family who has been selected to represent Solomon Islands in football and they are all proud of me. I also realize that national duty demands a lot and we all have to do our best when we play in the competition.
What will be your approach when you play favourites New Zealand?
I think the key thing will be to keep the ball on the ground. High crosses will not work if they are taller than us so we must rely on our passing and try to keep the ball in our possession.
What do you expect to take back from the competition?
I think I will be more confident as a player after this competition. I also hope to make some new friends and to enjoy playing. The important thing is the experience that I will gain from the competition.
Courtesy SIFF Media
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