With no girls only teams at her local club, Isa Green Camargo has grown up playing football in boy’s teams, but she is hoping that will change for the next generation of young girls playing football.

When 13-year-old Isa was offered the chance to coach girls in the MILO fantails programme, she was excited about the opportunity to introduce more girls to the sport she loves. 

MILO Fantails is a programme created to attract new female players aged 4–12 years old to the beautiful game. The sessions are focused on helping girls make friends, having fun, improving their skills and being active through football.

Isa is currently playing in the Girls First XI for her school, Taupo Nui-a-Tia, and plays in the Taupo AFC Federation 14 team, one of only two girls. 

She says that playing with boys is different to playing with girls, “Although playing football with boys has definitely helped me improve and get to where I am today. As a more physical, determined and aggressive player I do prefer being in an all girls environment as I find myself more confident and comfortable playing with girls. From playing with boys I've noticed they're more about doing fancy tricks and usually have a more individual game, however girls seem to really master the basics first and play a strategic game with more passing and teamwork.”

Being an assistant coach has been a great experience for Isa. She says that she loved sharing her love of the game with other girls. This term the programme clashes with her own game day, but she’s hopeful that she can get involved again in the future.  

She thinks it’s important to have more girls only programmes. “I think it's harder for girls to continue their passion through football as they can be easily discouraged at a young age having to play with mainly boys which is why I think it's very important to have more girls only development programs and opportunities like the Wahine Toa and Fantails programs. Having more opportunities for young girls to learn and practise with freedom and no judgement can really help them gain the confidence to carry on striving.”

Isa participated in the Wahine Toa programme in 2023. 

The MILO Fantails programme is up and running again at 5 locations across the WaiBOP region in Term 3, 2024. 

See Locations Here
 

Article added: Monday 5 August 2024