Trini soccer star Asha James lands in Portugal

CONCACAF says young players are always looking around for the next opportunity to improve their talent, often leaving their home countries to learn from the best in the game, and that Asha James of Trinidad and Tobago is no stranger to new places.

CONCACAF said on Friday that James has been playing “far from home for some time,” her latest adventure being in Portugal, landing in first division team Valadares Gaia FC.

But before arriving to the top division of women’s football in Portugal, CONCACAF said she made a name for herself at the collegiate level in the United States, being part of the West Texas A&M Buffaloes, “earning some individual honors, including an Offensive Player of the week distinction in the Lone Star Conference.”

CONCACAF said she also has been part of her National Team setup for quite some time now, starting at the youth level.

It said James was part of the squad that represented Trinidad & Tobago in the 2016 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, “a tournament in which she wore the Trinidad and Tobago jersey for the first time.”

CONCACAF James made her Senior debut with the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Women’s Team in 2019.

“At only 22 years old, she was part of the roster that represented the Caribbean country at the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship that gave out the spots to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic games,” it said.

CONCACAF said James went on to help her side finish first in their group in CONCACAF W Championship Qualifying, scoring three goals in five games.

A year later, it said she traveled with her team to Monterrey, Mexico and was part of the 2022 CWC, wearing the Number 10 shirt for the Caribbean nation.

CONCACAF said all of these achievements in college and for country caught the attention of Valadares Gaia FC, who signed the 23-year-old MF to a spot on the first team at the start of this year “to help them go up the table and compete to the fullest in the Portuguese league.”

“Currently sitting in 11th place, Valadares are no stranger to hustle and perseverance, as they take the pitch in each match ready to prove their talent, improving their game each time they are in action,” CONCACAF said.

“New to her team, James is adjusting to her new surroundings and is learning about one of the top leagues in Europe,” it added. “She is out to prove to everyone why she was a pillar for West Texas A&M and is a key player for the Soca Warriors in every international tournament they face.”