My

Story

Angelica

My name is Angelica, I’m 41 years old and I live in La Carolina, a vulnerable neighbourhood in Guayaquil full of many difficulties. I began my journey with football when I started taking my daughter to the women’s football training sessions. At first, I wasn’t very passionate, I just accompanied her to practice. But little by little, I got involved and fell in love with this beautiful world of football.

For the past two years, I have been volunteering with the Foundation El Legado, working on projects for girls and boys in my community. Near my house, at the bottom of a hill, there’s a small football field where my daughter, my niece, and I go every day to practice. Thanks to support from other foundations, we have some equipment now. We don’t get paid, but we do it with love and passion. The kids feel safe on that field, it’s like a refuge for them from the violence, gangs, and lack of services in the neighbourhood. Sometimes they ask me, “Profe, can we stay longer?” because they want to be there all day.

Then, I was invited to participate in Scort’s Young Coach Education project. At first, I didn’t know what to expect, I had never flown on a plane before! But I said, “Yes, this is my moment, and I want to enjoy it.” In November, I travelled to the first module of the training program, feeling very nervous but excited to meet the other coaches. The training taught me many valuable things, how to work with children, how to use football as a tool for learning, and how to talk about difficult topics like drugs and violence through games. These are lessons I’m now sharing with my community.

Football has transformed my life. I was once just Angelica, a housewife, but now I am Coach Angelica. People know me by that name, and it fills me with pride. I don’t have a professional degree, but I work hard and with love. Football gave me confidence and empowerment, and I want to help transform other lives too. If I can change the life of just one child, that is a big achievement for me.