One on one with Emma Abdul

She is now in Brazil with the team for their two-match tour and she's dreaming of facing Chile at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on September 5. Emma gives us an insight on herself and her goals both on and off the playing field.

1. So Emma, tell us what  made you want to play for Trinidad and Tobago?

Well I first found out about the team through my good friend Diarra, just before she had gone to South Korea with the team. I was really jealous of the great opportunity she had and I really wanted to be on the team as well. I had known there was an Under 17 World Cup this year, and playing in a World Cup has always been one of my dreams.

2. How did the opportunity arise and what's your ties with T&T, through parentage or birth?

I was eligible for this team through my father who was born in Trinidad.

3. Can you give us a bit of  your background, where you grew up, what High School did you attend?

Alright! Well I was born in Toronto, Canada on August 17th in 1995. My mother Alison Cocking is British, and grew up in England and my father Feeiaz Abdul was born in Trinidad as I mentioned before.  I have one sibling, my brother Ethan who is 17. I lived in Richmonhill for part of my childhood and moved to Toronto when my parents divorced. Currently, I attend Riverdale Collegiate Institute with my brother and still have another 3 years of High School to complete.

I’ve been playing soccer since I was a little child, and currently play with the Brampton Rebels. I made the Provincial team both this year and last year.

4. What's your position off the pitch ? In other words, where do you see yourself outside of being a footballer?

Outside of being a footballer I want to continue my education and go to medical school to become a doctor.

5. How has settling into the T&T team set up been like? Have you made new friends and how has the climate change treated you?

Settling into the team was quite hard to adjust to at first, getting use to the amount of training and the schedule. But with time I think I’ve gotten used to the program quite well. I’ve met a few new girls, this being my second trip in Trinidad seeing the team, and I have made a lot of friends on the team. The girls are really fun to be around and get along well with one another. The climate for me wasn’t as big of an issue as it was when I first came down because I’ve adjusted to the temperature, but it can be very tiring. Overall its treated me quite well.

6. Emma, what does it mean personally, getting to represent T&T at an international level and on that note, how excited are you about the FIFA U-17 World   Championship in September.

Personally to have the opportunity to represent my country at a national level is an amazing one  and a great honour. I am very excited for the group we are in with North Korea, Chile and Nigeria. It’s great that Trinidad has the chance to host a World Cup and help promote women’s football even more. I think the team is going to do very well with the amount of training and hard work we have put in order to be prepared for this tournament.

7. Who's your favourite footballer these days, both male and female and which team do you follow most?

My favourite female football player is Kara Lang. She was a great inspiration because she was the youngest soccer player to score an international goal, when she was 15 years old. My favourite male soccer player is Didier Drogba, he plays on my favourite team, Chelsea FC.

8. Do you hope to play the game on a professional level some day?

Yes of course. One day I hope to play in the WPS, which is the top level for Women’s soccer in America.

9. How crucial is it for the team to make the most of the upcoming trip to Brazil?

For our team trip to Brazil I think it’s very important for our team to make the most of it and play as hard as we can. If we go to Brazil with the right mind-set and win the games it will reflect all the hard work and progress we have been making and show all the other teams that we are ready for the World Cup

10. Are you seeing Chile in your dreams as yet?

Oh yes, I have been envisioning playing Chile since the day of the draw. Imagining a stadium full of fans supporting us in our first match gets me excited just at the thought of it. I think its going to be a very good opening game.

11. And finally, what's your favourite thing about T&T these days.

What I love about Trinidad and Tobago is the culture, it is very different from Toronto. I love how alive Trinidad is and how friendly the people are here. I also appreciate the amount of support our team has received. It’s a great feeling.

Thank You Emma from all of us and best wishes in your career as a National Team player and your overall future.