“He was my first teammate,” she smiles. “Watching him dribble in our backyard was my first introduction to the sport. I just followed his lead.”

At age 12, Novita took her passion seriously, joining a futsal academy in Bandung that shaped her foundation in the sport. Eight years later, her efforts were rewarded with a call-up to the national team.

It would be the beginning of a blossoming career that would span over a decade. Now, with over 10 international tournaments under her belt,including the Women’s Futsal Asian Games in 2018 and 2025, the SEA Games, AFF Futsal Championships and Asian Indoor Games, Novita’s presence in the squad is both enduring and impactful.

She has scored more than 12 goals in international play, often stepping up when it matters most. But for the seasoned player, one memory stands out above the rest.

“The 2022 AFF Women’s Futsal Championship was special,” recalls Novita. “We made it to the final, and I scored the equaliser in the semi-final. That moment reminded me why I started playing for moments that bring a whole nation together.”

As a captain, her leadership is both vocal and visible. Inspired by Brazilian legend Falcao and Iran’s Niloufar Ardalan, Novita is known for her calm demeanour, sharp passing, and tactical awareness. 

“Falcao’s creativity taught me to see the game differently, while Ardalan showed me what it means to lead with strength and grace,” she explained.

Despite her accolades, Novita remains grounded, always looking for improvement and is clear about her objectives.

“I’m working on my speed and finishing, especially under pressure,” she said.“You can never stop evolving as a player. Personally, I want to stay consistent and lead by example. As a team, we want to reach the final but beyond that, we want to inspire.”

Novita believes Indonesia’s preparation has been meticulous with intense physical and mental training leading up to the competition. 

In their opening Group C match against Japan, Novita inspired a second half surge with Indonesia netting twice.

“We’re ready. I’m ready. This is what we’ve worked for,” she declared.. “Representing my country is the greatest honour. I want young girls back home to believe they can dream this big too.”

“I want to give back to the sport that gave me so much. I’ll be working to make women’s futsal bigger, stronger and more respected in Indonesia.”