Two local soccer players will be heading to the North American Indigenous Games to represent 麻豆社国产during the event, which will run from July 16 to 23.
Jazmyn and Julia Williams will be wearing the colours of Team B.C. in the under-19 division.
The pair aren鈥檛 related, but one thing they share 鈥� aside from a common last name 鈥� is a deep love of the game of soccer.
Jazmyn, a 17-year-old hailing from the 麻豆社国产Nation, said that her big brother is one of the key reasons why she鈥檚 taken soccer so seriously.
鈥淢y brother really pushed me,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e was a really good soccer player, as well.鈥�
鈥淚 want my brother to be proud of me,鈥� Jazmyn added.
It appears as if she鈥檚 on the right track to making that happen.
A desire for victory is something found in all successful athletes, and Jazmyn is no exception.
鈥淚鈥檓 really competitive,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really like to win.鈥�
But at the same time, building relationships is very important to her.
鈥淚 think the thing I love most about soccer is being with my team,鈥� she said.
Julia also seems to share a competitive spirit.
She mentioned that the process to get to the Indigenous games can be very difficult, as teams pass through a series of tournaments before qualifying.
And it鈥檚 a challenge she said she relishes.
Julia, who won the 2016 Premier鈥檚 Awards for Aboriginal Youth Excellence in Sport in the category of soccer, said her drive to win is something that runs in the family.
鈥淎lmost everyone in my family has played soccer,鈥� said the 16-year-old 麻豆社国产Nation player.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited because of my mom,鈥� she added. 鈥淪he really pushed me hard for soccer.鈥�
For Julia, the games also take on an added significance.
The community has been cheering them on every step of the way, and to illustrate that she recalled how people from the 麻豆社国产Nation gathered to lift the girls鈥� spirits during the qualifying tournament to enter the Indigenous games.
鈥淲e had so much support from our nation,鈥� she said.
