THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Jessica

Here is her story…

My name is Jessica Prelle, I am a German National living in Dubai for the past 10 years.

I have played football all my life, starting with 5 years in Germany and joined a team in the Dubai Women’s Football Association in 2007.

This was amazing as I met some of my then/now closest friends and it made Dubai become HOME.

Shortly after I became captain of Phoenix FC. We were very successful, won the 2nd division and have been playing in division 1 since.

2013 I faced a few difficulties in my life – losing a very good friend and previous partner brought me to a low. The only time I left the house was to play football. I started seeing sessions and matches as a healthy vent and release. For the time I stood on the pitch I forgot all worries and grief.

I started playing more and more and met a group of people that played socially - mostly men, but the occasional woman in between…

They asked me to join a match and I enjoyed it so much that I saw potential in this.

I began to organize regular mixed friendlies…eventually a proper tournament and by now am in the fourth season of a full-blown league with 150 players!

I am now captain of two women’s teams and a mixed team – EFC Phoenix FC – these teams mean the world to me

In addition I have been hired by a football club who saw all the potential and am now running these events for a living but with just as much heart.

My dream is to give girls and women of all ages and levels an outlet to play football.

We are getting closer to that and through my work at E-Sports we now have created the first pathway – we have dedicated sessions for girls from 3 years up! The stronger, more ambitious players move on to the women’s sessions and teams with 14/15 where they have access to 7 and 11 aside leagues.

Only thing missing now is a more social league for beginner women to take part and develop in. I am working on that….

When I attend school sign ups we still face reluctant parents who happily sign up their sons for the football program but not their daughters. It’s still seen as an exception for a female to play the beautiful game.

It’s 2015 – time to change that!

E-Sports Football Academy - http://www.esportsfootballacademy.com/

Footie Events in the UAE - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468672793375226/

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