Soumyajyoti Mandal, Kolkata:At an age when most teenagers are busy with school and family life, Rinsha Mariyam took a bold decision. Leaving her home in Bengaluru at just 15, the Kerala-born footballer moved to Portugal to pursue her dream of becoming a professional footballer. Today, at 18, she is making her mark in European football.
Rinsha currently represents the Under-19 women's team of Clube de Albergaria in Portugal's first-division youth league, where she competes against renowned clubs such as Benfica and Sporting CP.
Her football journey began in India, where she represented Bengaluru FC for two seasons and impressed in Karnataka's A Division and Super Division leagues. At just 14, she also received a call-up to India's Under-17 national training camp.
Interestingly, Portuguese football has a special attraction for Rinsha as her idol is legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. His journey and achievements have inspired her to pursue her ambitions in his homeland.
Moving to Portugal was not easy. She had to adapt to a new language, culture and education system while continuing her football training. Her parents, MP Rasheed and Mariyambi, have been a constant source of encouragement.
Beyond football, Rinsha has also excelled in martial arts, winning a gold medal in a taekwondo competition in Nepal at the age of nine and earning a black belt in karate.
However, her ambitions do not stop here. Rinsha dreams of one day wearing the jersey of Spanish giants FC Barcelona. Her inspiring journey is a testament to determination, courage and the importance of family support in helping young girls achieve their dreams.
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