Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek
Pacific football fans looking at the Solomon Islands squad for the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship will see a familiar name: Fa’arodo
For those who don’t recognise the surname, Bella-May Fa’arodo is the eldest daughter of Solomon Islands legend Henry Fa’arodo – former captain of the men’s national team, who recently returned from New Zealand to Solomon Islands to take up the role of SIFF National Academy Head Coach.
Taking your first steps to represent the country your father did for many years with such distinction can be “a bit scary,” Bella admits with a smile.
“With him having a big reputation, I have to follow along and live up to it.”
But if Dad has it his way, in time people will hear the name and see things a bit differently.
“I do hope that one day when people hear the name and they see me, they see me as ‘Bella’s dad’, as opposed to her being ‘Henry’s daughter’,” he explains.
“The last thing I want is to put pressure on her, you know, knowing she comes from a football family, I don’t want that.
“For me at the end of the day it’s all about her. It’s her choice, and for me, I’ll support her any way I can as her dad.
“Family wise, I think she became the first female in the Fa’arodo family to play at this level. There’s a lot of male Fa’arodos that came through football – my dad did, I did, we have another cousin who played national reps as well. But Bella would be the first female to come through from the Solomon Islands.
“So I’m super proud of her already. And I’ll always be ‘Bella’s Dad’, no matter what.”
Given that football holds such a significant place in her family, you’d be forgiven for assuming it had been a fixture in Bella’s life from a young age. But instead, she found her own way into the sport.
A late starter in football terms, “I didn’t start playing until probably early 2021,” the midfielder explains.
“Before that I just used to watch my dad play. Go to his games, watch, and that was about it.”
Bella getting into the sport that was so embedded in their family was very much on her own terms, Henry explains.
“I remember growing up when she was a bit younger, a primary, I did try to take her for a few kicks here and there.
“But she didn’t pick up the sport until she was in her first year at high school. She came home one day and went, ‘I’m going to join the trials for the second XI’. And that’s how she picked it up,” he remembers.
“I think it’s more special because it’s her choice and I respect her choice and what she wants to do with her future.”
For Bella, her love for football comes from the experience of “just bonding with my teammates and then the game itself.”
She says being able to lean on her father’s experience as she continues on her journey has been important.
“Knowing that he knows what it’s like to be in those situations, it’s really nice and fun. I get to ask about things that I don’t know that he already knows, and when I have a hard time trying to find things out, he’s right there. He’s coached me a lot on the technical side, and sometimes using the mind.”
And with this support in her corner, she’s got high aspirations for her football career.
“My goals are to just keep getting better, especially in my position. And trying to aim high, maybe for the World Cup!”
She’s already had a taster of what a World Cup means. Based in New Zealand, she says she watched the games at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup with her family, with the technical and precise Japan side particularly catching her eye.
While the opportunity to get one of the two FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup spots up for grabs is now off the table for Solomon Islands, narrowly finishing behind New Caledonia in Group B, being able to represent Solomon Islands is a memory Bella says she’ll cherish.
“I just felt proud to be a part of the team for my country, and showcasing our country and our talents.”