Visibility Creates Opportunity

Anika's journey, marked by triumphs, two ACL tears, and a return to the field in Europe, ultimately shaped her mission beyond playing: to build visibility, structure, and opportunity for women in football. Today, as a psychologist, analyst, and founder of Global Tiki-Taka, Anika is redefining what support for women athletes can look like, pairing storytelling with scouting to open doors for the next generation.

In her own words, football isn’t just a sport; it’s a language of possibility. The conversation that follows traces the path that led her here and the vision she’s determined to bring to life.

Bonito: How did you first get involved in football? How old were you when you started playing, and what drew you to the game? What position did you play?

Anika: I started playing football at the age of five. My parents don’t remember a defining moment - only that I was drawn to a ball like a magnet. It was instinctive, something that felt part of who I was. My grandfather, who used to own a football club in Guatemala and is the only real football fan in the family, passed that love for the game on to me and became one of my earliest inspirations.

Growing up in Guatemala, it wasn’t common, or accepted, for girls to play football. I had to fight for the right to step onto the pitch, joining boys’ teams in school and in local clubs because there simply weren’t teams for girls. Those experiences taught me resilience, discipline, and self-belief, lessons that shaped every chapter of my life afterward.

I played primarily as a winger, a role that demanded awareness, adaptability, and creativity. It taught me to think about the game not only as a player, but as a strategist, which eventually led to my passion for the tactical analysis of women’s football, a side of the game that requires understanding every layer of how women play, think, and compete.

Bonito: Tell us about your experience representing the Guatemalan national team. How were you discovered, and which tournaments did you compete in? What stands out as your fondest memory from that chapter of your life?

Anika: At 14, I was called up to represent the Guatemalan national team. It was an extraordinary moment, the chance to wear my country’s colors and represent something much bigger than myself.

I played in Division 1 for over six years and competed in several national and international tournaments. My fondest memories aren’t tied to specific results, but to the collective spirit of the team, the sense of unity, pride, and perseverance we shared.

Representing Guatemala made me realize that football is more than a sport; it’s a language of possibility. Every match, every moment on that pitch reminded me that visibility creates possibility and that one player’s path can open doors for many others.

Bonito: You tore your ACL, an injury that disproportionately affects women footballers. Can you share what that journey was like and how it affected your career, both physically and mentally?

Anika: Tearing my ACL twice was one of the most defining and difficult experiences of my career. It demanded patience, courage, and a complete reevaluation of who I was as an athlete.

What impacted me most was realizing how widespread this injury is among women and how little it’s truly understood. The ACL epidemic in women’s football has ended countless dreams, including mine, and it’s a subject that still lacks the research and attention it deserves.

Now, as a psychologist, I’m exploring how mental and emotional factors influence ACL injuries, how pressure, decision-making, and emotional regulation can shape both risk and recovery. I’m currently conducting an academic investigation focused on the psychological dimensions of ACL injuries in women’s football, with the goal of contributing to greater understanding and prevention.

It’s time to view women’s injuries not as isolated incidents but as reflections of broader systemic gaps in how we study and support women athletes and the specific demands of their game.

Bonito: Even after your injury, you went on to play for a women’s football team in Spain. What was that experience like, especially as women’s football continued to grow and gain more visibility across Europe?

Anika: After years of recovery, I returned to the pitch with a women’s club in Seville, Spain. That experience gave me perspective on how much infrastructure, professionalism, and cultural support can influence the growth of the women’s game.

Playing in Europe revealed the impact of sustained investment, from quality training environments to consistent media coverage and institutional recognition. It was inspiring to see what women’s football could look like when it’s given the same resources and seriousness as the men’s game.

At the same time, it highlighted the disparities that persist elsewhere. In many regions, especially Latin America, talented players still face structural barriers that limit their visibility and progression. That contrast made me realize how much potential remains untapped and motivated me to help build the systems that can bridge that gap.

That realization eventually led to the creation of Global Tiki-Taka.

Bonito: You recently launched Global Tiki-Taka, a media scouting company that enhances player visibility through professional video analysis and storytelling. What motivated you to start the company, including your focus on supporting women footballers?

Anika: Global Tiki-Taka was born out of both experience and conviction. As a player, I understood the frustration of needing visibility but not having access to the right tools or networks to achieve it. Later, working as an analyst and talent development specialist, I saw how many female players were overlooked simply because they didn’t have the means to showcase their potential.

The idea behind Global Tiki-Taka is simple but powerful: visibility creates opportunity. We combine video analysis, scouting expertise, and storytelling to help players present their game professionally and connect with decision-makers.

Our mission goes beyond player promotion. It’s about building an ecosystem where women’s football is seen, studied, and valued at the same level as the men’s game. By giving players, the tools to be visible, we’re helping reshape how the game itself is perceived, from the grassroots to the global stage.

Bonito: Can you share a bit more about the scholarship initiatives and how many women you have supported to date? How do you identify the players who most need the support?

Anika: Our scholarship initiative is at the heart of Global Tiki-Taka’s model. For every service provided, we fund a free visibility package for a woman player with limited access, ensuring that opportunity is shared, not sold. These packages include tactical and player analysis, highlight reels, and professional materials that help players present themselves to clubs, scouts, or universities.

Through this approach, I’ve had the opportunity to support women players across the world. Each scholarship focuses on development as much as exposure, giving athletes practical tools to understand their game, grow tactically, and navigate their next steps with confidence.

My experience both on and off the field, combined with my personal scouting work, allows me to identify players who have the mindset, intelligence, and adaptability to compete at higher levels but lack the resources to be seen. Many are discovered through scouting networks, local recommendations, and the women’s football community itself.

The goal isn’t only to promote players; it’s to build pathways and create a ripple effect. When one woman gains visibility, she inspires others to believe that they can be seen too.

Bonito: What has been your proudest achievement, whether as an athlete or as a professional working in the sports industry?

Anika: Representing Guatemala will always be one of my proudest moments - it was a childhood dream fulfilled. But I’m equally proud of what’s come after: transforming that experience into something that can serve others.

Through Global Tiki-Taka and my broader work in women’s football, I’ve learned that impact doesn’t end when you stop playing; it continues when you start building. I’ve lived football from every angle, as a player, analyst, psychologist, and entrepreneur, and now I’m stepping into leadership roles that reflect that journey.

Bonito: What advice would you give to other young women who dream of playing football or who want to pursue a career in the industry?

Anika: Be fearless in your pursuit of the game, even when the path isn’t built for you yet. Football will test your patience, your belief, and your strength, but every challenge will shape the leader you’re becoming.

Learn every part of the game, not just how to play it, but how it works. Be curious about tactics, psychology, and the business behind it. The more you understand, the more power you have to shape its future.

And most importantly, protect your joy. That love for football, the same one that made you pick up the ball for the first time, will guide you through every stage of your journey. Whether you’re on the pitch, in the boardroom, or creating opportunities for others, remember: your dream has a place in this game, and your perspective has the power to change it.

I believe football belongs to everyone, and the boardroom should reflect the diversity of the stands. That belief is the compass that guides everything I do.