Football Taught Me Patience, Resilience, Collaboration And Discipline: Leah Poonawala

Leah Poonawala can’t remember a time when she did not play football. "It’s been like a best friend since childhood. I would often be the only girl on the field at 7 am three times a week," she says. The 25-year-old footballer says she is lucky that her parents supported her passion for the game. "I know so many players who are hounded by their parents until they drop the game. I don’t get it!"

In a chat with SheThePeople, Poonawala discusses how sport complements studies in the development of a child and is equally important. "Why do Indian parents have this either/or mentality? First do well in studies, then think about sport,” is what most parents say. Why? Sport actually teaches us as much as any other subject does," she says.

What role has football played in your development as a person?

Football has given me confidence, it’s made me strong physically and mentally, it’s taught me patience, resilience, collaboration, discipline, it’s sharpened my social skills, …. Books can’t teach you this stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I study and do well in academics, But I feel that’s only half the education a student needs. Sports is the other half.

What do you love about football?

I feel like a different person when I am on the field. Full of confidence. I love the competitiveness. I also love that when you’re on the pitch, you leave behind all your differences. It doesn’t matter which community, race, colour or religion you belong to… you play as one team. There is no back story.

You had the chance to play Varsity Football. Tell us about it.

After school, I played for Maharashtra State in the Under 14 Team, went for the India team trials, but didn’t qualify as I hold a British Passport. So I decided to go to the UK for my Undergraduate studies at Universal college, London, where I captained the college team and was elected president of the university football club. Playing in the UK was a huge contrast with the football experience I had in India earlier – in terms of the facilities, the training, the coaches, the quality of play, even in the commitment level of the players.

Leah Poonawala

So where do feel we pull up our socks?

Almost every aspect could use an overhaul. Especially in women’s football. Look at the budgets we get, compared to the men’s game. Considering the Indian National Women’s Football team beats the Men’s Team in the World rankings, should they not get more attention, more funds, better coaches and better training? The Women’s Nationals is broadcast at 2 pm…. Why would it get any viewers? And no viewers means no sponsors. This needs to change. We have some really good talent now that needs to be showcased.

You know, I say don’t wait for AIFF (All India Football Federation) to bring change, It’s up to the players to push the agenda and spread awareness to develop Women’s Football in the country. The US Women’s team did it – they took on the responsibility of bringing change in the perception of women’s football in the country and took football clinics to women all across the country and triggered a huge change.

Media needs to play a bigger role. We need more platforms like The Bridge to broadcast women’s stories and achievements in sports, particularly football which gets so little attention.

Have you experienced any gender bias as a female football player?

Absolutely. It’s apparent at the national level, with the huge difference in budgets allocated to the Men’s and Women’s Teams. All the way down to schools, where the focus is on the boys' teams, even though there may be excellent girl players. We need more girls to join the game because numbers can’t be ignored. More role models like Aditi Chauhan and Tanvi Hans.

Your message to girls across India?

If you really love football and want to see our National Women’s Team reach the World Cup, help by spreading awareness, sharing on social media and taking women’s football stories out to as many people as you can. There are some amazing stories and excellent talent in this country.

What do you think of the IWFA Girls Goals Cup?

Great to see someone who is genuinely standing up for the gender gap in Indian Women’s Football. Go IWFA!

Priya Mirchandani is a core member of the Indian Women’s Football Alliance. SheThePeople is a partner of IWFA.