Ashley's International Futsal Experience

My name is Ashley Henderson. I am a senior at Harding Academy where I play on the varsity soccer team. My journey to get where I am today has been completely by God’s grace and the angels He has placed along my path.

When I was in middle school, I was introduced to the game of soccer and futsal. Little did I know that the coach I met would instill a fire and passion in me for the love of these sports. From that moment, I have never stopped playing with a soccer ball. I began to study the game by watching videos and going to trainings as much as I could. Many times, I walked for miles to get to practice or games because I didn’t have a ride, and I often didn’t have enough money to get the appropriate gear. I was often overlooked and brushed off, but I kept my head up and strives to move forward. I will always continue to do so because my goal is to be on the top. A quote from Cristiano Rinaldo that I hold close to my heart is, “If you want to look good in front of thousands, you must outwork thousands in front of nobody.” This quote has inspired me to train, run, work, and play even when no one is watching me because I know that someone somewhere is going to see me, see my passion, and see how I pour my soul into this game. I will, by God’s continued grace, see the top of this journey! I hope that I may inspire other young players to strive for their dreams like I am doing.

This summer I was selected to join Grind City Futsal in Memphis, TN, under the leadership of my mentor and soccer coach, Rafa Rodriguez. All the teams of Grind City Futsal traveled to Orlando, FL, to compete in the United Futsal’s World Futsal Showcase event. At this showcase, my Grind City Team was undefeated. This was a very proud moment for me as it was the first time I was able to compete at such a high level with so many talented players. It was such an incredible opportunity!

During the summer, I also attended the national training camp for United States Youth Futsal in Kansas City. One evening while at home, I received an email notification from the United States Youth Futsal International Team stating that I had been selected to represent our country as a member of USYFI team that will travel to Lisbon, Portugal from December 27, 2022, to January 4, 2023. Words cannot express the excitement, honor, and gratitude I felt! I have put in countless hours training, practicing, and competing to be afforded an experience such as this. To play with players from another country, gain knowledge of the game, and be coached by people who live in a place where soccer is the number one sport, is something that I do not take lightly. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is something that I have prayed to be a part of.

Even though this is such an incredible opportunity, it comes with a high cost—$5,500 to be exact. That covers the cost of airfare and participation in the program. My goal is to get in to a D1 college or university to play soccer, so I have to put myself out there and see if I can make this trip a possibility. If you would like to support my dream of representing our country in Portugal, please follow the go fund me link below. Thank you!