6 days ago
Another Fa'arodo is shining in Solomons' soccer
We often hear about the father and son bond built through sports, but the father and daughter bond is not nearly as common in the Pacific.
But Solomon Islands football legend Henry Fa'arodo Junior is trying to change that by helping eldest daughter Bella-May, who had an impressive turnout at last year's OFC Women's U16 Championship in Fiji.
Despite Bella-May's footballing genes, getting out on the pitch wasn't always on the cards for her.
'I wasn't really interested in football at a young age. I was mostly more athletic and running,' she said.
Her dad describes Bella-May as a late bloomer, saying she picked football and never looked back.
In 2005, Fa'arodo became the first ever Pacific Islander to play professional football in the Australian A-League.
The Fa'arodos moved to New Zealand almost 5 years ago, where Bella-May and her younger sister Kiah-Marie frequently found themselves at the football pitch.
But now that they've returned to Solomon Islands, Bella-May is playing local club games
'In New Zealand it's more organised and here back home it's just different in terms of playing,' she said.
For Bella, having her dad on the sidelines comes with consequences.
'He's always pushing me and telling me to try my best, even if it's hard, I really appreciate it because it works,' she said.
As for Mr Fa'arodo he believes football is part of their story
'Football is in the family. It's here to stay,' he said.
Now Bella's goal is to break new barriers for sport in the Pacific by one-day representing Solomon Islands at international level.
'My dream is to play in the Women's World Cup… now I'm training up to that now, she said.
