Rising football star Sofia may only be 13, but her journey towards her sporting dream has already been remarkable. Moving with her dad’s job from London to Malaysia, then back to the UK, she joined Blackheath High School in Year 9 in 2024 and now has her sights set on a career in professional football. And with the potential for a trial with the Scottish national team, she is aiming for the stars! 

Her passion was sparked in Year 6, when her father, a football enthusiast himself, spotted Sofia’s talent and researched local teams for her to join. She began her journey with Leckhampton Rovers FC, before moving on to Swindon Town Football Club, where she played in defence for the girls’ team, as well as gaining a different perspective on the game by playing with the boys’ team. Her time in these clubs really helped Sofia develop her core skills through assertive and fast-paced play and developing both resilience and teamwork.

She then played a season in centre midfield at West Bromwich Albion, even playing at their stadium for one game, before the family moved to London to spend time with Sofia’s grandmother, who was unwell at the time. The move brought new opportunities for Sofia’s football dream – competing against more than 2,000 girls, she was thrilled to be one of 13 players selected for Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Academy. After a season with Spurs, she won a contract to play for the London City Lionesses Academy, an all-girls' club led by women’s sports advocate Michele Kang, which sits one division below the Women's Super League (WSL). Currently playing for the U14s, her goal is to advance to the U16 team in the upcoming season and eventually play nationally. Her father is in contact with the Scotland team, who may offer her a trial based on her performance. 

Sofia says, “My life is so busy! I play football every single day, usually for at least an hour and a half, so I am always shuttling between clubs. I am so lucky to play for well-known teams, but I also really love getting grassroots experience. I particularly enjoy playing with Cray Wanderers in Sidcup – they are a really excellent team, with an amazing community and lovely players. We even played Chelsea once! 

“My role model is Kanté - he really goes the extra mile and I feel like I can learn so much from that to get to the next level of my career and my playing. 

“I am really enjoying Blackheath High so far – and of course, I have looked for every footballing opportunity here! I trialled for the GDST team trials in January and got through the first round – I scored four goals which I was really happy with.” 

With a promising future ahead, this young footballer’s story is a testament to her resilience, hard work, and unwavering passion for the beautiful game.