Meet 15-year old Aleeza Asghar whose stumble into playing football has grown into a passion. She now plays for Nottingham Forest aiming to become a professional footballer.

Despite her busy schedule between training and preparing for her GCSE exams, Aleeza agreed to a Q&A with MWN Hub. This is her story of how chance encounters can grow into opportunities. Her parting advice to young girls is, ‘you’ll reach barriers and you’ll reach obstacles, but you’re going to have to beat them. Follow your dreams because nobody else is going to do it.’

Let’s hear about your journey into playing football – when and where did it all begin?

It all started when I was 11 years old, during Covid, where my brothers used to play football all the time in the garden with my dad. I was bored, so I went and played with them. My dad saw potential from the start, but I didn’t really think anything of it.

When my brother was 8 years old, he went for a trial at a local club. I had gone with him to see what it’s like and see the team. While waiting for him, I got a ball and started playing in the corner. By coincidence, the girls’ coach walks past, and asked my dad does your daughter want to play for us. My dad came up to me and asked if I wanted to play for them. And I was like why not!

I joined them and I played for 2 seasons at Keyworth United FC. I did really well there, in the first season of me playing I had scored 48 goals and then on the second season – I was thriving and really comfortable – I think I scored 56 goals. For me, it was an achievement because I broke their record, so they gave me my own little golden boot for the top scorer for the whole league, not just for our team.  Whilst playing for them I got scouted by Notts County, I spent a season there, where I did really well – scored somewhere around 40 goals there.

This season that I’ve just started, I joined Nottingham Forest and I’ve been doing really well there. I’m really enjoying it. Everybody is being so supportive.

How often do you train?

At Nottingham Forest we train 3 times a week. As women are playing more football and a lot better – the ranks are getting higher. So, we are going from a girl’s league to only playing competitive friend leagues, which all the highest academies do. 

We train on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday – we do normal training, like on the ball training on Mondays and Wednesdays, then on Fridays we do 40 minutes of futsal inside to help the technical side and to help our physical side do 40 minutes of gym and strength and conditioning. And we play irregular games against all other academies – sometimes tournaments, but it’s not weekly.

The training is intense, but because I’ve been playing at quite a high standard for a long time, have settled in really well.  

How do you balance your studies with your training?

It’s hard, but I have quite a good balance. At Nottingham Forest they also help us, so if somebody is having trouble at school they have people to help and will get them out of training, giving them the support they need.

I also have to manage my time. I’m quite an organised person. It’s a hard balance, but if you get into a good routine then it’s fine.

Are there any challenges that you have experienced while playing and if so how did you tackle?

Of course, there have been struggles, probably because I am Muslim and one of the very few, if not the only one on my team that is a person of colour or who is Asian – that’s been a really hard barrier to come across. But you go off with it and everybody around you supports you.

I’ve been fortunate, I have had very good experiences. Like during Ramadan, when I used to fast, as we often trained in the evenings, we’d start at 7:30pm and finish at 9:00pm. So, I used to start playing whilst fasting and they’d say, ‘Aleeza, just relax, take it slow’. I’d bring my packed lunch in my bag, they would keep track of the time and would tell me when it is time to open my fast. I’d then go into the changing room to open my fast, they will always say take as long as you want. They were always helpful towards that.

In terms of choice of clothing, as you get older it may become an issue, but right now, for me it’s been fine. They’ve always been able to provide the joggers and the under armour – they are pretty good about that. They have never really said anything. All they’ve ever said, ‘Aleeza you’re probably really hot’, but other than that they’ve been really good with it.

Everybody around you is supportive – my parents, my coaches have been really supportive. I’ve just been accepted over time. I’ve learnt to enjoy – I know that if I can be an inspiration because I know I’ve got nobody to look up to, then I’ll play and hopefully inspire others.

Is there any female footballer that you take most inspiration from or any other sports personalities that you admire?

Probably, Millie Chandarana, whose at Nottingham Forest.  She is the first south Asian that they’ve had. She is really inspirational, I’ve never seen someone at that high level who is like me. So, when I see her it’s really inspirational – that greatly helps.

Where would you like to see yourself in the next few years? Do you want to play football professionally?

Yeah, definitely – I’d always aim to be a professional footballer, that has been my dream. And I know that, if it is my dream and I can achieve that then it will benefit more than just me; it will benefit my family, benefit other Muslims or other Asian girls. I know I can be an inspiration, staying with football. Breaking barriers that other Asian girls haven’t– if I can start it, I can maybe help others achieve what they want to as well.

What advice would you give to a young girl interested in playing football?

Don’t listen to what anyone else says because there will always be someone or it may be sometimes yourself just bad thoughts in your ear - just got to ignore them and carry on going. You’ll reach barriers and you’ll reach obstacles, but you’re going to have to beat them cause once you do, it will get easier. Follow your dreams because nobody else is going to do it. They can say stuff to you, but they are not going to do it for you. So, do what you want to!  

For more updates on Aleeza Asghar, you can follow her on instagram, here is a link to her profile.