Football Provides Leicester Pupil With New Opportunities

- Aliada, a Year Nine pupil at St. Paul’s Catholic School, has seen improvements around her lessons
- Originally from India, Aliada moved to the UK last summer after being unsettled
- Aliada started coming to an after-school Premier League Girls session in January
- She is now going for Leicestershire Schools County football trials as a goalkeeper 

Having moved to the UK from India 12 months ago after being unsettled – Aliada initially struggled to adjust in Leicester – until Premier League Girls was introduced in her school.

The LCFC Community Trust’s Premier League Girls programme targets girls across the region, aged 11 onwards, to get involved in football activity to suit individual and group needs to encourage wider sporting engagement.

Aliada regularly attended the after-school Premier League Girls session since it was introduced in January and quickly found a likeness to the sport. 

St. Paul’s Catholic PE Coordinator, Syreena Pinel, discussed how football has enabled Aliada to improve her attitude in school and was pleased with the impact the programme has had on pupils.

“It has made her a bit more structured within her lessons,” she said. “Especially within her sports lessons – she was quite closed – whereas she is a lot more open now.

“I am really impressed with the programme because we have got girls on here that would never have come to after school clubs.”

The Thursday session has welcomed a group of girls from different year groups and friendship groups, who like Aliada, have homed in on their skills as well as developing important life skills.

“I was initially upset because I couldn’t play before I came to the UK,” Aliada said. “Now I am able to play and that keeps me happy.”

The Year Nine student also expressed excitement for her upcoming Leicestershire Schools County trials.

Having found a good ability to block shots and a impressive hand-eye coordination through PL Girls, Aliada is training as a goalkeeper.

“It is awesome that I am going to football trials,” she added. “My confidence level has gone up because of Premier League Girls – I am excited for trials!”