Swaby: Nothing that happens on the pitch is more important than the fight for equal rights

Roma Women defender Allyson Swaby was the special guest of Generation Amazing on Wednesday afternoon, as she discussed at length her commitment to various social causes.

The centre-back, an international with Jamaica, spoke with club partners Generation Amazing on Instagram, as she discussed the proactive stance she has taken to addressing matters like racial justice and gender inequality – two issues that have come to the forefront once again in 2020.

Swaby explained why she feels she has a duty to use the platform she has for good.

“I think as athletes it’s really important for us to speak on social issues,” Swaby said.

“I think that we have huge platforms – whether or not we want it. [Right now] I am here using an Instagram account with three million followers, so our voices are constantly being heard.

“So I think that, for me, it is really important that people that follow me or the teams I play for – that they know what I stand for and what I believe in. First and foremost, before I am a football player I am a human. And specifically I am a black human.

“Nothing that happens on the football field is more important than fighting for human rights and for equality. So I think thatin this time, with Covid especially and because people have been at home, we’ve been able to really think about who we are as people and what we want to accomplish and leave in this world as individuals.

“I want to leave this place better than I found it, so for me that is why I think it so important to speak up.”

While Swaby has been vocal in her stance about racial justice, and the ways she has suffered discrimination during her life and career, she has also been an active participant in the push by the Jamaican women’s national team to receive treatment and conditions that match those of the men’s squad.

“Being a female football player, every day is a different kind of struggle for us than for the male athletes,” she added.

“We put in the same amount of work, and the same amount of time, but time and time again we see that we don’t receive the same benefits as male players. I think that everything I fight for now, with my national team we struggle to have [parity] with the men’s team – so doing what I can do now just to make sure that the next generation of girls has access to a little bit more.

“I don’t expect to see all the changes that I would hope to see within my lifetime, but what I can do is kind of set stones and lay foundations that others can build upon and help us to fight for gender equality everywhere.”

Swaby was a key member of the team as Jamaica played at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

“Being able to represent Jamaica was such a huge, huge honour,” she said.

“It meant so much to me and my family. I was proud to be a part of that. It was the highlight of my career so far.

“My sister was also on the team – and that was another incredible experience in itself. With hindsight you kind of realise that we did something incredibly special and super unique. It was a great experience for us to share.

“She’s younger than me too, so all being well I would love to be able to share that experience with her again – when we are a bit older, wiser and more mature as players.”

Right now, however, she is focused on helping Roma Women's campaign in 2020-21. Betty Bavagnoli's side have begun the new Serie A season with four points from their opening two games.

"Obviously our [long-term] goal is to earn a Champions League place and eventually win a Scudetto," she said.

"Juventus have been at the top for a long time now, so I think it is our goal to try and disrupt that and to show that we are a great team and that we can compete with anyone in this league."