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/

Comments

Mirror, Mirror

“I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...

Fly Away

“Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...

One Rising Star

Search This Blog