Solano Community College's Sissi Featured In Chelsea Clinton Book

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — Former Brazil futbol star Sisleide "Sissi" do Amor Lima, who currently works as the assistant women's soccer coach for Solano Community College in Fairfield, joins Helen Keller, Oprah and Sonia Sotomayor as women who are profiled in Chelsea Clinton's new book, "She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History," the college announced.

Available in hardcover from Amazon March 6, 2018, the book emphasizes the adversity each woman faced, as well as the persistence each demonstrated.

"When I started playing soccer in Brazil as a child, people would talk about how I was not supposed to play with boys, but I didn't listen," Sissi stated in a college news release about the book. "I knew what I wanted to do. I was not going to let anyone change who I was or alter my dreams. The more they said I couldn't play, the more passion I had."

Her persistence paid off. Once ranked Brazil’s No. 10 before being succeeded by Marta, Sissi was the Silver Ball MVP winner and Golden Boot leading scorer at the 1999 World Cup, where she helped Brazil to a third-place finish. She also played in the 1995 World Cup and in two Olympic tournaments.

"When it comes to facing adversity head on and coming out ahead, I can’t think of a better example than Sissi," said Solano Community College head soccer coach Jeff Cardinal. "Sissi truly inspires our players every day – both on the field and in life. Now she’ll inspire the world!"

More about the book can be found on Amazon.com.

Main image: Germany's Sandra Minnert, left, and Brazil's Sissi fight for the ball during a women's soccer Olympic tournament match in Canberra Saturday Sept, 16 2000. Germany won 2-1. (Photo by Dusan Vranci/Associated Press, file)