World’s first FIFA-recognized transgender football player

In light of the heightened excitement at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil which still draws up multitudes of crowds from all parts of the globe, the LGBT community recently celebrated the recognition of the first ever professional transgender football player to grace the World Cup qualifiers in the course of its colorful history.

In a sport frontlined by men, a stunning 25 year-old, 6ft 1ins (1.83 meters) transgender center-back named Jaiyah Saelua from American Samoa was instrumental in putting her team back on track after winning a preliminary FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Tonga back in 2011. American Samoa had been suffering massive losses against Australia with a sweeping 31-0 record in 2001 and was even dubbed as the world’s worst football team. But like an answered prayer, Jaiyah rose and led her pack, giving American Samoa its hard-earned and much-needed victory against Tonga.

Born “John Saelua”, Jaiyah is referred to as a “fa’afafine” which means “way of the woman” in Polynesian tradition. This tradition allows young boys around the Pacific region to freely choose to be brought up as females.

Jaiyah was first selected to play for American Samoa at age 14 and had eventually went on to try out for the men’s collegiate football team in Hawaii when she was 22.

She remembers how she was treated differently during the try-out’s. Jaiyah recalls:

“At the warm-up for the try-outs the coach pulled me aside and said that he didn’t want to put his team in an uncomfortable position.”

“And I knew that was my cue to leave. So I only spent 10 minutes during the warm-up and I didn’t even get to show how good a player I was.”

“I probably would take matters more seriously, because it is an issue worldwide. And even at the college level it should be dealt with.,” she expressed she would’ve dealt with the experience differently today.

Although the American Samoan team failed to advance to Brazil for the tournament, Saelua has now become a role model and inspiration to transgender athletes across the globe. Realizing the amount of work needed to be done to combat discrimination and homophobia in the sport, she has decided to postpone her initial plans for gender transition to 2015 to stay on the field and inspire other athletes – and she really is taking this role quite seriously.

“I was sure in 2011 that when the (World Cup qualifying match) was over I would give it up and start my transition, but… we were doing well…,” said the athlete.

“And I didn’t want to give the message to other trans athletes or potential trans athletes (that they would) not be able to see me again playing after 2011.”

“There are no rules against it but as a personal decision… for me, because I tackle tough… it’s risky for me.”

“I feel like I am not getting younger and the older I get, the harder it will be to transition.,” Saelua said of the procedures she will be undergoing and that she needs testosterone to toughen up and become “one of the boys” on the field.

And now with matches advancing at the World Cup with millions of fans and supporters watching the telecasts, Jaiyah hopes that American Samoan officials could reach Fifa President Sepp Blatter so she can appear in Brazil as an ambassador against homophobia.

“(FIFA President) Sepp Blatter wrote me a letter in 2011 recognising me as the first transgender (football player)… he mentioned that he has a team of athletes that he put together to fight discrimination in any way.”

“I think this is our time, for transgender people,” Saelua said.

Carry on, Jaiyah! Carry on!