Yahoo Sports First Jersey team set for major youth tournament
A Jersey team will be the first squad to represent the island in the Gothia Cup.
The competition in Sweden is the largest youth football festival in the world.
Jersey Wanderers under-13s girls squad will play teams from around the world when the competition begins on Sunday.
Players have said it will be an “amazing” experience and is a “huge opportunity” for them.
Anika is hopeful Jersey Wanderers can do well in the tournament.
She said she was “just so happy” when she found out the team had made it into the cup and it was “just amazing” that they had the opportunity.
The midfielder added: “I think more people from even the boys teams and girls teams will see us in the tournament and that can show them what they can do on this kind of stage.”
Each year 1,700 teams from 80 different countries play in the Gothia Cup.
Alana plays striker for Jersey Wanderers and said she was nervous but excited for the tournament.
She said “if we try our hardest” then they can go far in the cup and winning the competition would “mean a lot to me”.
“I made more friends here and it can be hard to meet people at times so if it wasn't for football won't be I would not have these friends,” she added.
Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
