by Tony Lofton, Jr.
Senior Khadijah Ford turns and sprints to an opposing player with the ball and cuts her off, stealing the ball at midfield. She sees her teammate, freshman Ayana Ford running towards their goal, so she prepares to pass the ball. Ayana collides with an opposing player not paying attention, and the referee blows the whistle to call a foul and stop the game. Khadijah runs to help Ayana get up.
Khadijah and Ayana are more than just teammates. They are each other’s best friend, advisor and so much more: they are sisters.
Khadijah is a three-year player and a first-year captain on the team. Ayana is a first-year player who was introduced to field hockey by her sister. Because she is the only freshman player, she’s known as the “baby of the team.”
“Ayana has a lot of potential,” assistant coach Kayla Mitchell said. “She will probably be one of the better players on the team in future years.”
These sisters’ relationship has gotten closer on and off the field over the years according to their mother TaNeisha Ford, who is an assistant principal at Armstrong High School.
“As children they were very mischievous,” Mrs. Ford said. “They used to argue a lot when they were little, but now that they have grown up, they hardly argue at all. They are closer now that they are both in high school because they share a lot of secrets and whispers with each other. “
In middle school, Khadijah played soccer, basketball and ran track while Ayana played softball and tennis. They both found a love for field hockey when they came to high school.
Khadijah and Ayana both play mid-field.
“On the field they have a lot of nonverbal cues and signals since they are sisters and are able to read off one another,” Mrs. Ford said.
Coach Victoria Ferris said the sisters sometimes argue on the field, but it’s all out of love for one another.
Coach Ferris said that Khadijah doesn’t realize how much her sister looks up to her and wants to be like her.
Khadijah and Ayana spend every waking moment together. They live in the same home, attend the same school, play the same band instruments and play on the same team.
Khadijah said that she worries about her little sister like all big sisters should, especially when she entered into high school.
“I worry about her around boys because she’s really boy crazy. I have to warn her about not believing everything they say, and teach her from the mistakes I made. I know that Ayana is smart and can take care of herself most of the time,” Khadijah said.
“We are very close,” Ayana said. “I come to her if I have boy problems or anything. We are just alike. It’s like we are one person in two bodies.”
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