Ayanna Smith Travels to Peru to Play Professional Soccer

Our beloved KSC Prep, U14 Girls Coach, and Kensington Elite Women’s Soccer Player Ayanna is a force on and off the field. Ayanna met fellow coach and teammate Brianna Banks when they were playing for Philadelphia Lonestar Women’s semi-professional team. Brianna told her about the coaching opportunity at KSC because Ayanna wanted to get involved. Ayanna says, “It was similar to what I did back home in New York… coaching with a club team, and I wanted to do the same once I moved here.” She is thankful for the ability to join leagues at KSC, and the opportunities since she started working with us. Her impact as a coach is evident not only in the progress athletes have made, but in their tearful goodbyes as they celebrated her send off to play professional soccer in Peru. 

When Ayanna started playing at age 6, her coach saw her as the fastest person on the team. Now, in her twenties, Ayanna is planning to share her speed as a professional soccer player in Trujillo, Peru. She wants to, “get out there, show them what I can prove to them, my speed, on and off the ball, moving to the half, passing... When I’m there I’m going to try and build myself as a player. Just be helpful to the team.” Ayanna’s incredible journey to Trujillo highlights how her passion for soccer empowered her to travel to grow her skills and her network. 

Ayanna has played in New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, and each team has left an indelible mark on the player she has become. Even though she tried dancing, gymnastics, and a variety of sports, soccer resonated with Ayanna. Her transitional point was when she started playing for Albertson Fury. One of her most notable mentors was her coach Paul Riley. She says, “He was huge in the soccer industry… He was someone who helped me and made me the player I am now.” She continues, “I knew he was someone who had to change my game. I couldn’t just be the fastest person on the field. So definitely he was one of them… a player and friend, he was a huge mentor. He gave me great advice on how I would play.” 

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Ayanna initially matriculated to Connecticut Southern University, before she transferred to Delaware State University. As she shifted from a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) to a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), she noticed differences in funding for athletics. Still, the diversity on the team, and the quality of the networks were invaluable. She says, “HBCUs are at times heavily underfunded. They don’t always have the equipment to do things, but I think my time there I met a lot of people. Hence how I got to where I am now… the people I met there that got me to this position. That experience was great, I met a lot of friends, people who still help me to this day.” Ayanna credits these relationships for her professional and personal development, as they encouraged her to “think differently”. 

The networks she cultivated helped her answer some internal questions about the opportunities available for her to play soccer after college. A friend encouraged Ayanna to consider semi-professional leagues. “So a friend of mine introduced me to the Philadelphia Lone Star team which is semi-pro as well. So I started as that, [and] went into the semi-pro level.” So from Philadelphia Lonestar I played with Coastal Atlantic Football Club (CAFC)... I did a tryout with Sky Blue, who are now called Gotham FC.” 

Ayanna’s passion as a player was not solely ignited on the field. Despite her enjoyment of the game, a personal health matter at age 13 forced her to take almost five months off to recover. From that moment she told herself, “Once I get healthier I won’t stop, I will continue to play this game. It was embedded in my head that if you're not sick, nothing’s broken, then go for it.” A generation later, as she was making the decision to play professional soccer, she harkened back to that personal promise. After playing for the Philadelphia Lone Star team, she was approached by someone in her network who wondered if she was interested in playing amateur soccer. She says, “So the professional idea came up, I was still in shape, no bones broken, I’m breathing well, so I was like let’s go for it.” 

In preparation for Peru, Ayanna has been training vigorously. This was instilled from her Dad. As she became more focused on developing her skills through middle and high school, she says, “My Dad he was pushing me – like wake up 5 in the morning…go out there, train. You want to do the best, here’s what you gotta do.” Similarly, Ayanna says, her Mom is, “is my number one, she is always in my corner.” While her Dad was, “more heavily into athletics than my mom was but she was more like the supporter…” Her parents, in addition to family and friends are a part of her phenomenal support system.

That whole experience I was a little nervous and it was a little exciting at the same point. But yeah, I think, just for me, the only hesitation I had, just the language. Like how can I play out here and I don’t even speak Spanish? After tryouts, we played an official 11 v 11 game, and that’s when it set in, like this is fine, there is no problem. We will be fine with being out here. Nervous and excited, but the excitement took over when I went on the field.  

Even as she celebrates, she still reflects on areas of growth she is looking forward to over the next season. One area of growth is adjusting to the style of play in Peru. She says, in the United States, “it’s like take the ball and go and make a score, but here [Peru] ...take your time, pass, dribble.” Aside from that, she is focused on getting some experience. Another area of growth is, “I am trying to learn the language. Spanish is a barrier, but trying to learn the language, just improving myself as a player.” 

Both Ayanna and Brianna Banks are working on learning Spanish to communicate more effectively with their teammates. During the tryouts she says, “I was a little nervous and it was a little exciting at the same point. But yeah, I think, just for me, the only hesitation I had, just the language. Like how can I play out here and I don’t even speak Spanish? After tryouts, we played an official 11 v 11 game, and that’s when it set in, like this is fine, there is no problem. We will be fine with being out here. Nervous and excited, but the excitement took over when I went on the field.” Ultimately her experience in the tryouts shows that despite the language differences, the game of soccer is universal, and a great way to unite players from different backgrounds. In anticipation for the upcoming season, she says, “We’re here to stay. They may be good where they’re from, but the Americans are coming to play and we’re bringing a different style!” 

Beyond playing soccer, Ayanna is a foodie who looks forward to eating delicious cuisine on her travels. Soccer has provided amazing opportunities for Ayanna to indulge in her love for food and travel. As she concludes, she has a message for young athletes who are interested in a similar path. She says, “Just really focus on your soccer career; if you love it and your passionate about it, don’t give it up.”

Ayanna is an incredible part of our community, and we are proud to see where her love for soccer brings her next.