CONCACAF are celebrating International Day of the Girl, and with that, they celebrate Bermuda’s, Emily Cabral.
Cabral has never shied away from playing with the boys, at just 6 years old, Cabral joined the local boys’ team because at the time, there was no girl’s team.
Girls having equal access to football on the island of Bermuda would prove to be a slow but steady journey. When Cabral was 13 years old, two other girls decided to join the team and things started to change. Cabral became the team’s captain and demonstrated that on the field, one’s legacy is defined by skill and not gender.
Today, at 17 years old, Cabral is a senior in high school and a member of the Champion U15 CONCACAF B Tournament team.
The opportunity to play for her country serves as a huge sense of pride for the rising football star and she hopes to go pro one day. Her love of the sport has translated into helping other girls feel included and empowered no matter what they choose to pursue in their lives.
She credits her best friend Danni Watson, for encouraging her over the years and serves as a role model to the group of (under-9-year-old) girls she coaches. “When you are part of a team, you join a family. Challenges and obstacles seem to disappear because you have a network of people rooting for you. I encourage all girls to participate in sports in order to feel that unwavering support. It is truly a unique environment that has set me up for success now and in the future.”
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