Varsity soccer captain Leah Ghebreyesus pushes for the girls soccer team to be in the UIL

By Camille Marlin, Staff Writer|October 21, 2021

Senior Leah Ghebreyesus leads the girl’s soccer team during a practice.

Senior Leah Ghebreyesus has been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. She was always trying out new sports but found her way back to the sport of soccer. With the upcoming soccer season coming up, captain of the girls soccer team, Ghebreyesus has worked tirelessly each and every morning before and after school to help prepare the soccer team for what she believes will be their best season yet.

For Ghebreyesus, her path to soccer first began with the inspiration from her dad. Her constant admiration for him sparked a sense of pride and joy to follow in his footsteps.

“My dad played soccer. He played for his country Eritrea. And then he had to stop, because he had an opportunity to flee. So he took it. He chose to better his life. And then when he made it to Australia. He then played for a minor league in Australia. Unfortunately, because of an injury he could no longer play, and I just feel like we share a lot of interests when it comes to soccer, so I play for him,” says Ghebreyesus.

Ghebreyesus continues with how her passion has impacted her life, now being a captain for CVHS girl’s soccer club. She describes the hard work and sacrifice that many may not see behind her easy smile.

“I run in the mornings, then go to practice most days after school. It definitely is a challenge balancing soccer with school, but I make time during the school day to teach myself material to be the best student I can be in the classroom.”

Ghebreyesus stresses the importance of how she is always constantly learning. Both in the classroom and on the field. Even though she is experiencing a new role in leadership this year, she says there is always something new to learn.

“Soccer is a team sport, so if you need help with whatever it is, teammates will always be there for you. I am still learning, learning how to fix bad habits. When I was younger, I created all of these bad habits, so through playing, I am constantly trying to fix those, to ultimately set a better example for others. There is always room to improve and get better.”

Besides always learning, Ghebreyesus realized she wanted more of a challenge. Just this year, she joined her local competitive soccer club to gain more experience and knowledge of the game.

“I found out what I was missing through school soccer, Because when I was younger I played on my middle school team, and I was under the impression that that was all the training that I should have had. But then I started meeting other more advanced players, and it inspired me to get better. That’s when I realized that I needed to join a club,” says Ghebreyesus.

Being a captain has helped her discover new characteristics about herself, learning to ask for help or push through struggles in life or on the field.

“There are rarely things in life that are fully independent, there’s rarely a time where you genuinely cannot do it without support. So, I guess, don’t be afraid to ask for help, people who are very silent should speak up and be open. There is always someone to help you, no matter what it is.”

Ghebreyesus continues with how her family, friends and teammates have supported her throughout her life, particularly with soccer.

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“My dad played soccer. He played for his country Eritrea. And then he had to stop, because he had an opportunity to flee. So he took it. He chose to better his life. When he made it to Australia, he then played for a minor league in Australia. Unfortunately, because of an injury he could no longer play, and I just feel like we share a lot of interests when it comes to soccer, so I play for him.”

— Leah Ghebreyesus

“Well, my dad has helped me a lot on the physical side with soccer and just growing up in the athletic environment. But my entire family, especially my mom and dad have supported me financially, mentally, and socially. They have always helped me push through struggles that I have had in my life and help me maintain my passion for the game.”

This passion she has felt has led her to not only captaining the girls soccer team but also continuing to pave the way for those after her. For one, pushing CVHS to include the Girl’s Soccer Team in UIL.

“Getting the team to compete in the UIL will ultimately benefit our players. Competing at a higher level will allow us to build as a team, individuals, and players. So gaining that would be huge. It would really get Carnegie on the map with more athletics, hopefully getting people to take us more seriously athletically,” says Ghebreyesus.

For the future, Ghebreyesus hopes to potentially compete at the collegiate level after her senior year.

“In the future, I want to be an engineer and would like to play in college. But I have to set my expectations realistically on what I will prioritize in the future. But that is definitely a goal of mine.”