Think of young Bermudians creating opportunities for themselves in Britain in cricket and football, and the names Nahki Wells, Delray Rawlins, Kamau Leverock, Dale Eve, Rai Simons and Reggie Lambe come to mind.

LeiLanni Nesbeth is the latest name on that list, going even one better than the others by making a name for herself in both sports.

The 14-year-old arrived at St Bedes, where Rawlins is in his final year, only two months ago and is already enjoying some success. She has been selected to the Sussex County Cricket Women’s Under-15 squad and before that made her debut for the Sussex Women’s Under-16 football team against Kent Under-16s.

Coming on as a substitute with her team trailing 2-0 at the half, the young Bermudian made an immediate impact, scoring two goals to send the cup game into extra time before netting the match-winning penalty to claim the player-of-the-match award.

Nesbeth joined Bedes on a full scholarship through the relationship that the Bermuda Cricket Board enjoys with the school and is quickly flourishing in her new environment. This summer she visited England with the BCB’s boys’ development squad, hosted by Bedes, and in February 2014, Kayla Raymond and Nesbeth, were the only girls in a BCB youth team that toured South Africa.

Her mother tried to get her involved in ballet and gymnastics, but while she stuck with the latter for three years, there was something about cricket and football that she liked more, even captaining the St David’s under-11 cricket team.

“The boys treat me like they would treat anybody else. I fit in well with them.” said Nesbeth ahead of the South Africa trip.

Nesbeth is back home on a midterm break and at the weekend assisted with the BCB Academy training on Sunday morning, attended by a group of young girls. The BCB is happy to make the investment in one of their top young female cricketers.

“From our perspective she is a real role model, and we want to see her be the first of a string of young girls who enjoy playing cricket, and have an opportunity to flourish in a nurturing and competitive environment,” Neil Speight, the Bermuda Cricket Board chief executive, said.

“Sussex have a very good youth and girls’ cricket programme, and Bedes are trying to build their cricket programme up. Allan Wells is the director of the cricket programme at Bedes and he played for Sussex and England.

“We’ll be waiting to hear back from Sussex as far as their winter training programme and fixtures for next year.

“We were always optimistic that she would have that opportunity once she got over there. We’re not that developed in Bermuda in terms of girls’ cricket.”

Like all two-sport athletes, Nesbeth has a favourite — football — but she intends to pursue both during her time at Bedes.

“I’m just trying to improve in both and see where it takes me,” she said.

Even so, the BCB is happy to play their part in helping to develop not only a talented athlete but a well-rounded individual.

“Delray has already been picked for the Sussex Under-17s, and was one of the four Sussex players who got picked for the England regional [London East] team,” Speight said. “LeiLanni will have a similar opportunity on the girls’ side.

“It is probably easier to excel in cricket than football. Women’s cricket is more visible than women’s football. It [losing her to football] wouldn’t be a loss as long as she grows as a person, and represents the country with honour.”

The commitment she has shown to cricket has certainly been paying off for Nesbeth, who will be at Bedes for four years.

“I’m really enjoying the experience,” she said. “There is a lot of independence and you have to be able to adjust to the new surroundings and the weather, as well as balancing out the academics and sports.

“Bedes offers so much sports that I’m able to do both, and since the cricket season hasn’t started yet, next term when football finishes I can focus on cricket.”

So why not netball or other sports involving girls?

“I never really was interested in netball, tennis or those sports. I saw them as too girlie,” she said.

“Seeing the boys playing down at St David’s, it interested me a lot, and I thought ‘why can’t girls play sports that are traditionally for boys’. I just got interested in football and cricket because they are the most popular sports.

“My mom tried to put me in ballet but that didn’t work out. When she saw I was interested in these sports she supported me. I used to run for Bermuda Pacers Track Club but dropped out.”

Speight said it would be a matter of safety if — or when — Nesbeth decides to break new ground and try out for a senior men’s cricket team in Bermuda.

“As long as the skill development is there, there wouldn’t be a restriction,” he said.