SINGAPORE, 24 APRIL 2019 – The Football Association of Singapore had the honour of hosting La Liga ambassador Aintzaine Encinas last week.

During her visit from 18 to 22 April, the former Spanish footballer dropped in at the Under-15 Women’s National Team training session to encourage the girls as they prepare for the ASEAN Football Federation Championship 2019 in Chonburi, Thailand next month.

The 30-year-old also conducted a football clinic for girls aged 12 and below to impart her knowledge to the aspiring players.

Encinas began her footballing career at 15 with Spanish sports club Añorga KKE in 2003. Subsequently, she moved to top-flight outfit Real Sociedad Femenino – also known as La Real – in 2004 when the club was created. Within two seasons, she helped them achieve promotion to the top divisionand spent a total of 13 seasons with the club until she retired in 2017, recording over 350 club appearances.

Part of the 2004 squad that represented Spain at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, the former La Real captain was unveiled as an ambassador for La Lig in October last year and is one of only two females among the 25 chosen ambassadors.