Louisa Julie Bird Mavaega of Iliili, a senior at Tafuna High School, is the first female athlete from the territory to receive a full four-year scholarship to play soccer in the U.S., where she will attend Grace University, and continue with her education in Criminal Justice.
In an interview with Samoa News last week, Louisa described how she felt when she was granted the chance to attend Grace University on scholarship.
“Getting this scholarship was not an easy task,” she told Samoa News. “It took a lot of hard work, staying up late at night, sending out many applications, and trying to find a college who could recruit me to play soccer for their team. Grace University was the first school that responded to my request which was able to offer me a full scholarship,” she said.
Mavaega, recalls, “I have loved playing soccer my whole life. I played when I was just a little girl up until my freshman year at a high school in Hawai’i, where I was part of my school’s soccer team playing against other high schools; and even though we didn’t win the overall championship, the spirit to become the best soccer player was burning within me since that day.”
She continued, “I have played this sport since my childhood, and it’s been a great motivation for me to continue on to play for my local club in Iliili and also my school team at THS. Playing from the time I was a young is a blessing for me — and my aim is to continue on until I become a professional soccer player.”
After completing her high school freshman year in Hawai’i, Louisa returned to her home in Iliili, American Samoa, where she attended THS. During her sophomore year, she was selected to be a part of the girl’s soccer team.
The third of five children, with two older sisters and two younger brothers, Mavaega says she grew up in an athletic family. Her father Sione was a volleyball player during his prime, and she called her father her role model “ever since she was born”. She said she really wanted to be an athlete like her father.
“My dad has his own news articles pasted on our house wall, and being a volleyball player back in those days, my father always reminded me of who he was when he was trying to be the best player on the field,” she said.
“My father is my true role model, he was the true motivation for me. I want to follow my dad’s footsteps as a good athlete, and even though my dad didn’t get anything out of what he did, I know that there is a possibility of getting something out of what we’re trying for in this life. For me, having this scholarship from Grace University, I know for sure that there I will go there and develop my skills and knowledge about the sport that I love the most!” said Mavaega.
Asked about her aims for the future after completing her four years at Grace University, she smiled and said that she will only depend on God’s plan for her.
“My future in education and my talent is based on God’s plan for me, He was the one who gave me this talent, and I humbly accept it. He also wants me to focus my education on Criminal Justice, which I did. So, if it’s God’s plan for me to keep playing soccer after college and being a professional soccer player, then I’m willing to do so — but if not then I will continue on with my education in my field of criminal justice.”
She told Samoa News that her goal is to come back to American Samoa when she graduates to recruit all the kids out there who love to play soccer, and spend some time with them — to tell them her stories, and to help them improve their skills in the game.
“All I want is to come back to American Samoa and offer something back to all the young kids who love to play soccer. I want to share with them what I have learned, and share with them how to become a successful athlete.
“And especially for all the female athletes in American Samoa, I want you to know that we can make changes in our community because of the talent that God has given us”, said Louisa.
She added, “I want to thank FIFA for providing programs for the kids to develop their talent in soccer. I want to be a role model for all of our female athletes who are willing to improve their talent, to help other female athletes out there to stand up and show what you got. There is no difference between male athletes and female athletes, we are all the same and believe me that we can do much better than what people think of us.”
Mavaega was the captain of the THS girls Varsity soccer team that made the 2016 ASHAA girls varsity team play-offs this year for the first time in the school’s history. However, they lost to the Fagaitua Vikings team in a tough match, which saw the Vikings continue on to the finals, where they won against Marist Fa’asao.