Thirteen-year-old Misha Abarder is preparing for a trip to Sweden to fulfill her long-held dream of participating in the 2026 Gotland Cup. Before leaving, she said goodbye to her father and long-time coach, Gasan Abarder, at the airport. Her journey will take 15 hours via Istanbul.
Misha's dream began a decade ago on local football pitches in Cape Town. Now, she is traveling to Gothenburg to participate in the 2026 Gotland Cup Youth version, representing the under-16 girls' team of Camps Bay Football Club. Misha will be participating in the tournament as the youngest player.
The Gotland Cup, first held in 1975, has grown into the world's largest and most prestigious youth football tournament, often compared to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Every year, thousands of teams from different countries gather in the Swedish city, creating a global football festival. This year, 1963 teams from 79 countries are participating, and Camps Bay is one of the six teams representing South Africa.
The invitation to the tournament arrived about a year ago during a regular game. Misha recalls how the coach approached them with the offer to join a team traveling abroad, and she was stunned by the event. The following months were filled with intensive training, academic pressure, and a large fundraising campaign. Securing funding to send a young athlete to Europe was a difficult task led by Misha's mother, Laila Abarder. She organized a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign and held events to cover travel, accommodation, and tournament participation costs.
Laila Abarder stated that it was hard work, and after the last fundraiser in mid-June, she was barely holding up. Now, her mother is also traveling to Sweden with the team to help the coaching staff accompany the girls. She admitted that she was afraid of her own reflection and did not want to fly, but in recent years, she has developed a love for travel, and when she learned about Misha's trip to Sweden, she decided to go.
While her mother boards the flight, her father and Misha's long-time coach, Gasan Abarder, remain at home. Gasan has been with Misha since she was three years old, guiding her from being a solo girl to being a strong defender. Gasan's decision to step back from direct coaching was intentional. He previously coached Misha directly at the club level, which eventually caused tension. Misha's mother explained that she had to tell Gasan not to coach her team so as not to damage his relationship with her, as they are both too emotional and dedicated to the game. After Gasan stopped coaching, the situation became much smoother, and he agreed that it was a necessary step for his daughter's development.
Gasan noted that he is happy to let her go on her own and spend time with her mother, as this used to always be between him and her. He believes that this period away from him will be beneficial for Misha, as she will be part of a very close-knit group of girls.
Misha embraces independence, acknowledging her father's huge influence on her growth, but is ready to test her skills without his constant supervision. She says that while he is necessary, she can manage on her own because he helped her grow so much. Her mother believes she will face less pressure in Sweden. She notes that when her father is present at matches, Misha tries to perform her best, although this does not negate the support he provided.
Playing as a central defender, Misha is on the last line of defense before the goalkeeper, which requires immense responsibility, the ability to read the game, effective communication, and taking physical contact. She expects to face much older, taller, and more physically developed players from well-known European clubs. Misha explains that when facing a large or muscular opponent, she tries to forget about her and focus on the game, asserting that the first five minutes determine whether she is afraid or if she will be let past.
This decisive confidence is a recent change. For a long time, Misha struggled with self-doubt, often comparing herself to her older sister Kehara, who was academically gifted. Misha's mother says that Misha was always less inclined towards academics than Kehara, but they always told her that she had other qualities. She recalls persuading Misha to try football instead of ballet, despite fears of ridicule, and how Misha, upon receiving a jersey with a large purple star, declared that she was a football star.
According to Laila, Misha tells her family that she hopes to attract the attention of international scouts and jokes that she will play for 'AC Milan' in the future. This is far from the image of a three-year-old girl who started in the local Soccer Starz program. In Misha's luggage for Sweden, besides her uniform and necessities, there is an old pair of blue boots in which she trained during the intense preparation for this tournament, which she is taking with her as a memento.
Despite the drive for sporting success, the Abarder family maintains a realistic view of Misha's long-term future, considering education the highest priority. Misha excels in mathematics and plans to obtain a degree in accounting or law at West Coast University, known for its women's football program. Gasan emphasizes that after university, she will be able to combine high-level football and quality education.
Ten years after her first contact with a ball, Misha Abarder is ready to show the world her abilities. Advising her three-year-old self, she says: 'Keep playing even when it gets hard. There will be moments when you want to quit, when it seems like it's not your thing. But when that happens, don't give up. Keep fighting, keep playing, because it will get better. You will show people how good you are.' For now, the focus is on the upcoming experience, and fans in Cape Town can follow the Camps Bay team through the official Gotland Cup app.
