When Anisha Dwarka runs onto the field in the Fiji Kulas jersey at the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, it will not just mark her debut — it will mark her victory over adversity, and the realization of a dream that once hung in doubt.
Two years ago, the then-16-year-old was set to represent Fiji at the U-19 level, her name penciled in as one of the key midfielders. But just as her international journey was about to begin, fate took a cruel turn — a torn ACL dashed her hopes and sidelined her for months.
“It was devastating,” she recalls. “I had worked so hard to be ready for that moment, and to have it taken away was tough.”
But where others might have retreated, Anisha rebuilt. Through grueling rehab sessions, long hours of solitary training, and the unwavering belief that she would wear the Fiji jersey one day, she slowly made her way back — stronger, smarter, and more focused than ever before.
Now 18, Anisha plays college football for William Jessup University in California, where she’s emerged as a key contributor for her team. Her football journey has taken her through elite youth systems like the Northern California Olympic Development Program and even the Japan FA Academy, each shaping her style — a midfielder who blends intelligence with instinct, discipline with flair.
But through it all, Fiji was always on her mind.
“Even while playing in the U.S., I always knew my heart belonged to Fiji. Representing the country where my family comes from is incredibly special,” she says.
Her call-up to the senior Fiji Kulas squad for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup felt like a full-circle moment — one she didn’t take lightly. During training sessions at the Fiji FA Academy in Vatuwaqa, she’s been calm, focused, and quietly impactful, impressing both players and coaching staff alike.
Head coach Angeline Chua sees in Anisha a player with not only talent but character — someone who’s already overcome adversity and understands what it means to fight for a spot on the pitch.
“Anisha brings great composure and creativity to our midfield,” Chua notes. “But beyond that, she brings heart — and you can’t coach that.”
As Fiji prepares to face Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu in Group B, Anisha is likely to play a key role in dictating the tempo, transitioning play, and connecting the team’s defensive discipline with its attacking ambition.
But for her, this tournament is about more than tactics and technique.
“This moment is for everyone who supported me during my injury, for my family who believed in me, and for every girl watching who dreams of wearing this jersey,” she says.
And as the national anthem plays at HFC Bank Stadium, and the lights shine down on Suva, it won’t just be about football. It will be about faith, resilience, and a young woman who turned a setback into a comeback — and finally gets to call herself a Fiji Kula.
Group B Fixtures – Fiji Kulas 🇫🇯
📅 Saturday, July 5 – vs Solomon Islands | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📅 Monday, July 8 – vs Tonga | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📅 Thursday, July 11 – vs Vanuatu | ⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 All matches at HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
🎫 Tickets: Just $5