By: Monique Moana Fischer
Alisa Osborn was sure the birth of her son 18 months ago meant the end of her footballing career.
“I was told quite often that once I had a baby that would be it. I was told I was too old and too big as an Islander to play football again.”
The 28-year-old midfielder made her international debut for Samoa in a 2-nil win over Tonga in the Oceania Nations Cup last week, and is hoping to inspire players to have multiple dreams.
“I can’t believe I gave birth a year and a half ago – he’s grown so fast and yet I’m playing 18 months later and still doing my post-natal pelvic floor exercises,” she laughs.
The Samoan Women’s National Team is currently in Suva, Fiji, competing in the Oceania Nations Cup, which doubles as a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
Hawaiian based Osborn, whose father hails from Apia, had hopes of representing Samoa for more than 8 years but various factors over time thwarted her opportunities – and then came the birth of her son, Ezekiel.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to do it – everyone said it was motherhood or football. But I thought if anyone were to tell my son that he couldn’t do something, I’d tell him to prove them wrong. So that became my motivation. By April I’d decided I’d do everything to make this team.”
That included paying her own way to fly halfway across the world for a trial in a training camp held in New Zealand.
The versatile midfielder has not only juggled motherhood, wrestling a hamstring injury while in camp and then testing positive for Covid upon arrival in Suva.
“It hasn’t been easy. But the turning point for me was the legacy I wanted to leave for my son and for the next generation of Island players.”
She says more aid is needed both financially and mentally, especially in Island nations where large families are the norm and women often adhere to traditional maternal roles.
“As Islanders we value family but then we also value dreams as a family – if one has a dream then we all have that dream collectively. This is no different.”
Osborn says it wouldn’t have been possible without the immense support of her family, though questions whether FIFA and Oceania are doing enough to help.
The inspirational mother feels lucky to be rooming with teammate Shontelle Stevens, who returned to international duty after giving birth to 3-year-old Kyla.
“When I saw Shontelle singing the national anthem I started crying – I know what that moment meant for her as a mother – the sacrifices she made to be here,” says Osborn.
Stevens, who plays as a defensive midfielder, battled post-natal depression and stepped away from competitive football for almost two years.
“I had a difficult pregnancy and put on about 20kgs afterwards,” says Stevens. “I couldn’t move like I used to, I was battling depression and I didn’t think I’d ever play competitively again.”
Then an innocuous text to come have a kick around with some friends changed everything.
“Kyla was almost two. I remember going down to the park – laughing and having fun, it reminded me of how much I love football, and what it had given me.
“That’s when my focus shifted. I think football saved me.”
Despite this being her third international tournament with Samoa, it has been “by far the hardest”.
She’s had to leave Kyla behind in Auckland and hopes in the future.
“I’ve missed out on a lot of time with Kyla leading up to these qualifiers. You start to question whether it’s worth it.
“Now I’m here and my daughter’s watching me on TV. It makes me want to be better – having her know that if mummy can chase her dreams, then so can she.”
Stevens, whose family hails from the village of Moata’a, says more needs to be done for players in her position.
“There isn’t enough out there on the mental health; how mentally challenging it is to be away from your child or dealing with the changes to your body postpartum.”
For both mothers the risks have been worth the reward.
Kyla will be watching her mum on the big screen come Saturday, when Samoa take on New Caledonia in the quarter finals.
After 8 long years of dreaming, her international debut was everything she imagined it would be.
“Now I just want to play more,” she laughs.
Samoa play New Caledonia at 4pm on the 23rd of July at ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji.
ENDS
