Alicia Wilson - ace footballer By Anthony A. Foster, Youth Writer JAMAICA'S FEMALE football team captain Alicia Wilson has her eyes set on playing in the professional league in the US soon. The 21-year-old former Hebert Morrison High School student is a gifted athlete who participates in five different sporting activities. At present, however, her focus is on playing football because that's what she loves most, she said. Alicia who started playing football for Jamaica in the late '90s has not looked back since being selected in a squad of 22 players from the first training camp that she attended. REPRESENTED JAMAICA IN THREE DIFFERENT SPORTS The St. James born lady is so gifted that she has represented her country in three different sports (Under-21 Netball, Under-21 Volleyball and now a member of the senior football team). She was also invited to join the National Basketball and Hockey teams but opted for football. She studied at GC Foster College before going off on a football scholarship to William Carey College in Golf Port, Mississippi, US, where she is presently studying psychology. In last year's college league she played as a forward, scoring 19 goals in 15 matches. Football is her love, she said, because her father is an ardent fan and her brother was a member of the National Under-17 team which went to the Youth World Cup. We caught up with Alicia recently. Youth Link: Who influenced you to play football? Alicia Wilson: Bertis Bell. YL: Do you participate in any other sports? AW: Netball, basketball, volleyball and track & field. YL: What was it like representing Jamaica for the first time? AW: It is more than words can explain, when I stand and hear my national anthem playing I feel so good in myself knowing that I am representing my country. YL: What's your most memorable moment playing for Jamaica? AW: It was the last game I played in Haiti, when we where treated by the Haitian referee. That was my last trip. YL: What's your most disappointing moment? AW: I don't really have one, every thing happens for a reason. YL: What were some of your experiences on tour? AW: I have met some of the US National Players, so when I go overseas I can say I played against this player. YL: Are you happy with your performance now? AW: Not at the moment because my season finished from November and I am out of action. YL: What's your future career choice? AW: When I am through with my psychology degree, my coach has asked me to help him with the female team for another two years,then I want to try out for the Professional league in America. YL: What's the next stop for Alicia? AW: Just concentrating on getting my degree and after I finish, to try out for the pro-leagues and if I am not successful I'll go back and do my Masters. YL: How is it like playing for difference position (Stopper & Forward). AW: I prefer to play stopper because I can stop them from scoring, but at the same time I love to help my team score. YL: What would be your advice to a young footballer who would want to be like you one day. AW: Playing football alone won't help, football without academics can't get you anywhere.
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