On a beautiful night in New York City the Dutch Lions of the Women’s Premier Soccer League have been serving as a bridge for upcoming women’s soccer players a place to play.
Providing the proper training facilities, beautiful uniforms, and an opportunity to test the skills against opposing soccer teams they promote the total football philosophy, which is the system in which any player can take over the role of any other in a team.
With players from around the world combining and playing the beautiful game, the epitome of what it means to go after the American Dream currently plays on their team. Her name is Aya Barka, and she is going to be one to watch in the world of sports whether it is on the field or off.
Aya not only plays as a part of the Dutch Lions roster, but also helps in the media relations department and behind the scenes at the MLS Club New York City Football Club.
Showing a true spark, passion and enthusiasm for the world of soccer, Aya walks the delicate line of being on the field and playing while also helping the journalists of the world (including yours truly) in putting together game notes and interesting facts and figures for New York City FC.
How does she do it all, well it is just a matter of great communication skills and time management, as Aya is truly on it when it comes time for balancing both playing semi-professionally and for being a huge part of a public relations team.
Her love and passion for soccer came from her family, as they came to the United sates from a country in Africa by the name of Tunisia where people feel a true passion and a connection to the sport of soccer.
Instead of cheering for teams like NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls, the people in the Country cheer for Etoile and Taraji.
The rivalry between Etoile and Taraji started during the 1923 season, and the first derby ever being played on March 23, 1924. The popularity of the sport has gotten the most recent derby played in the countries Hammadi Agrebi Stadium, (also known as Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi), due to the fact that it holds a capacity of 60,000 seats.
Aya carries on the tradition of the sport of soccer from Tunisia that has produced such players such as Ellyes Skhiri.
Skhiri plays as a defensive midfielder for the Bundesliga Club Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as the Tunisia National Team, Ellyes is one of many that has come from the country and found success in the sport of soccer.
And the hope is thanks to a team like the Dutch Lions in addition to her time with helping as a media relations person with NYCFC Aya can also find that same success.
To hear Aya’s story from the star herself fans are encouraged to check out the video interview below-thank you so much Aya for your time in doing the interview for the site:
So how did the story of Aya and her passion for soccer get started…
It was her father, brother and sister playing pickup in the backyard that ignited the love of the sport and from there Aya’s career is blossoming.
After playing pick-up with the family Aya started to play in more organized games in middle school and eventually got herself to where she played at the Collegiate level at both Suffolk Community College and eventually getting her Bachelor’s Degree and playing at St. Joseph’s University (at the time College).
Amazingly it was the magic of social media that got Aya onto the Dutch Lions roster, as a message through social media got her career on the Semi Professional Path.
“Aya is a lovely girl and so passionate about the sport of soccer,” said Dutch Lions Head Coach Rogier Schultz when I asked him about what type of a person Aya is. He continued by saying, “Even though she didn’t play much this year, her character, enthusiasm, her ability to put the team first on and off the pitch made her one of my captains.”
As she enters her second year on the Dutch Lions, Aya is a sponge for the sport taking in every moment both on the field in terms of tactics as well as whenever she is in the world of media relations.
Learning to adapt quickly to becoming more organized on the pitch with the tactics needed to be not only a professional women’s soccer player but also a public relations professional as well, Aya has been learning the tips and tricks as to what plays work in terms of plays on the field but what information is needed by the journalist of the world to conduct the stories such as these for fans around the world to enjoy.
A true example of what it is to chase a dream and showing how being a part of sports can teach things like leadership skills, communication skills and how to work with others Aya is learning some great lessons and is just getting started in her career in sports.
The hope is that many years from now others can see the type of path that Aya is on, her enthusiasm, passion and drive and can be inspired by her balance, her dedication to the sport of soccer and her ability to her balance not only her professional life but also her life in being able to play the beautiful game of soccer.
And not only that but the hope is teams like the Dutch Lions can also continue to be the bridge and place for people like Aya to gain the proper development, growth and skills to hopefully achieve their dream in any shape it may take.
For more information on the Dutch Lions fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here:
New York Dutch Lions FC – Gateway to Professional Soccer (nydlfc.com)
For more information on New York City FC fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here: