Nur Ain Salleh arrived in Madrid last January on an Unleash The Roar! (UTR) scholarship and discovered European football was tougher than she’d imagined.
Ain first heard of her Spain move in August 2024.
“One of my goals was to play overseas against bigger and better players, so I was very excited to move to Spain,” recalled the 15-year-old.
Upon landing in January, the Lion City Sailors winger realised she’d have to up her game to match Madrid CFF’s youth side.
“The players there are technically and physically stronger,” she explained. “It’s very different from playing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) because the level here is more demanding. They also communicate more than players in Singapore.”
Ain also battled a tough language barrier on-pitch – she could not follow Spanish drills or coaching instructions.“Communicating with the players on the pitch was difficult as most of them speak Spanish,” she added.
“Sometimes, it’s also hard for me to understand the drills and what the coach is speaking about.”.
However, being apart from her family – especially her mother, Zainah Karim, and her sister, Atikah Ardini (both former footballers) – proved one of her greatest challenges.
“My mom would always bring me along whenever my sister went for training. Watching on from the stands inspired me to pick up the sport at the age of five,” she said.
“Before my games, my mom would always remind me that whatever happens on the pitch, I should never overthink or let my head drop.”
Living in Spain, she “missed their physical support,” she adds. These challenges have forged Ain into a stronger player – both physically and mentally – as she returns home to spearhead the Under-16s’ Lion City Cup campaign.
Back with the U-16s, Ain expects to bring her Spanish intensity to every match.
“Having experienced training sessions that are harder and more intense, I expect myself to give my 100% in every match,” said Ain. “The team is preparing well, and the coaches have pushed me a lot alongside our goalkeeping staff.”
As the Lionesses prepare to face Korea Republic in their opening match on 8 July, Ain is eager to play in front of a home crowd at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
“It’s the first time all of us are going to be playing in the tournament, so I am very appreciative of all the fans that will be coming down to support us.”
