Susan Phonsongkham has never lost sight of her football dream.
But growing up in Thailand, she was actively discouraged from playing the sport.
Her stepfather even told her she would never make it, but fortunately for Susan, her mother had a different view.
“We got told that girls are supposed to be at home and playing with Barbies,” Susan, 18, told SBS News.
“My mum was like 'No! You have to go out there'.”
Susan Phonsongkham at Sydney Olympic training. Source: Adrian Arciuli
Susan could only play against boys at school, but that was a challenge she relished.
“They don’t like to play soft, if they see girls on the field with them,” Susan said.
“They like to go in hard and do everything 100 per cent.”
“Before I go in, I told them, 'go ahead, that’s fine, it’s just going to improve me'."
And improve her it did.
Narumol Sultana with her daughter Susan. Source: Adrian Arciuli/SBS News
Susan and her mother Narumol Sultana experienced domestic violence in Thailand, which led to them leaving the country in 2012.
But Susan's footballing talent was quickly identified when she started a new life in Australia, and she also got the personal help she needed.
There was a lack of support in Thailand compared to Australia, she says.
“My mum walked into a women and children centre and that’s when I realised that people here [in Australia] actually care for me and my mum,” Susan said.
“Whereas in Thailand, if you walk into somewhere and try and get help, they would just be like, 'no, we can’t help you because there are so many people that are in need of help as well'.”
“I guess that’s when I realised how much Australia gives me and I want to give back by representing Australia.”
Despite raising Susan on her own, Narumol has always encouraged her daughter to keep playing football.
“Everywhere is still hard for a single mum, everywhere in the world, believe me,” she said.
“We have to do the right thing for them and keep them busy.”
'Giving back'
Narumol says Susan had two dreams when she came to Australia as an 11-year-old; play football for Australia and prove that women have skills just like men.
She is on track to achieve both.
Susan has already scored in the W-League and is a key player for the Young Matildas. She’s currently playing with Sydney Olympic in the NPL NSW women’s competition.
Susan Phonsongkham controls the ball in a Young Matildas match against Thailand. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac
Her career is just getting started but once it’s finished, Susan plans on returning to Thailand.
“My aim is, if I get anywhere in football, I would like to go back there and just encourage girls to play football because it gets them out of trouble,” Susan said.
A culture change is already underway in Thailand with the country preparing for its second appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup this month.
Susan says there are now academies for young girls, an opportunity she never had. Pathways could improve further if Thailand upsets its more fancied opponents in the group stage.
It begins its campaign against the USA on 12 June before taking on Sweden and Chile.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup takes place in France, 7 June-7 July.
Read more news from the and see the rest of the stories in the .
SBS will offer all Matildas matches, the opening game, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final live, free and in HD. All SBS games will also be live streamed on website and app.
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