Central Coast junior soccer player Anika Francis of Davistown has been accepted into a top athletic academy in Florida but might be unable to accept the life-changing opportunity if a fundraising campaign set up by her mother can’t help raise the necessary fees to get her there.
The IMG Academy has a host of successful alumni, including tennis great Serena Williams.
“The opportunity is out of this world and so are the fees,” Anika’s mother Megan Francis said.
“I’m getting slugged due to the USD to AUD currency rate.
“It will cost me $64,000 a year to send her.
“I’m happy to sell my home when the market corrects itself again but for today, I need help.
“I’m a single mum with limited supports and have started a fundraising page via Australian Sports Foundation.”
Francis is trying to raise $25,000 to secure Anika’s place and get her to the US but intends to fund the annual fees herself.
Anika plays in the Mariners’ U16s and played a friendly game against the Mt Druitt Rangers in the U20s recently.
“She is the striker and scored five of the six goals,” Francis said.
“Her dream is to go over the USA and really get developed and then come back to Australia with the aim of playing W League for the Mariners, in overseas competitions and hopefully with the Matildas.
“So far, the community has raised $3.000.
“If I cannot get the $14,000 in the next few days to secure her application and then commence with immigration and visas etc, I don’t think her entry next January will come off.”
Anika, 15, has been playing soccer since she was 11.
“I just love the community of soccer and the game is so fun,” she said.
“I love connecting with the ball and expressing myself on the field.
“This opportunity is very important – a really good chance to go over there and put in the amount of time I need to to advance in the sport.”
Anika’s plan is to finish her schooling at the academy and perhaps go on to a US college.
“Soccer is massive over there – there are a lot more resources and scouting opportunities,” she said.
“I would hopefully get some offers to play in America but if not I plan to come back to Australia to rejoin the Mariners and advance my dream of becoming a professional soccer player.”
As we went to press $3,000 of the $25,000 needed had been raised.
Donations to help Anike get to the Us can be made at asf website.
Terry Collins