Post by cjeagle on Sept 22, 2021 1:34:56 GMT 8
An exclusive chat with the 27 year-old Filipina-French-American midfielder who currently plays top flight football in Sweden's Damallsvenskan with club Pitea IF.
Sweden recently caught the attention of the world after their national team has been winning the H2H with the USWNT lately. Their most famous club team Rosengard are constant fixtures in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Pitea itself featured in the 2019-2020 UWCL season and were Swedish champions in 2018.
Katrina has already played 7 matches for Pitea and has started the last four matches including a draw against another UWCL team Linkopings.
Q: How did you start playing football?
KG: Growing up with a European father exposed me and my older brothers earlier on to European football. Mom on the other hand was familiar with American soccer since this was a requirement as part of her junior/high school curricula. In addition to other sports, soccer has always been a part of my immediate family growing up and being tagged along to bring my brothers to their practices and games. It was through these that I too wanted to play also at 3 years old which was the start of my journey and love for the sport.
Q: Can you share your family's background?
KG: Mother immigrated to the U.S. beginning of the 70’s at the age of 10 years old from the Philippines and became a U.S. citizen in 1998. Both maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the U.S. earlier on. My maternal grandfather was an accountant and my grandmother was a stay-at-home mom. My father a French national came to the U.S. to work for an international organization as an expatriate in the 70’s and later met my mom before they married in the early 80’s.
Q: How do you feel about your Filipino heritage?
KG: Raised with a mixed culture of both French and Filipina in the U.S., I have been introduced early on not only of my French culture but also Filipino culture. These included family values, history, music, food, friendship, etc. Though my mom was raised in the U.S., my family, my mom’s siblings and their family often visited my grandparent’s house on the weekends and it is here that we would engorge on typical Filipino foods that my grandmother would prepare. My mom also learned how to make some of these dishes from my late grandmother which she learned while she too lived overseas and more so before my grandmother passed. My favorite until today is pancit, lumpia, meat rolls and sinigang! As a matter of fact, while mom visited me a few months ago in Sweden, we ventured out to an Asian store 45 minutes away from where I lived so she can make me these favorites and even made extra for the freezer. Just for those days, I crave those Filipino foods and a taste of home ☺️
Q: Can you compare Swedish football culture with the leagues you've played in including America and college soccer there?
KG: I played soccer in the Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS) league at the Premier level while playing High School Varsity and was the only freshman starter. Thereafter, I continued to play collegiate D1 women’s soccer on a full-ride soccer scholarship. Throughout my collegiate career, gained accolades both in the CAA and making my mark in the college history record on goals and assists. During my senior year, I helped the team earn its first at large bid to the NCAA championship by scoring the first goal of the game and assisting the second for a win. During my collegiate career while carrying a full load classes, I had to learn to balance my day to include early morning workout sessions starting at 5:30 AM, eating breakfast, then off to classes, and later in the afternoon return to afternoon for field practice again. My schedule was rigorous specially on game days when travelling and required to continue to do homework, sometimes taking a test online as to not fall behind on class work. I also continued to take summer classes to help lighten my class schedule for the next semester and earned my USA F license. These experiences prepared me how to manage my time as well as taking care of my body to keep fit and prepared me for my next journey in my soccer career. Towards the end of my senior year, I was recruited to play in Finland for ONS in the Women’s Naisten Liga A, then went on to play one season in Switzerland Lega Nazionale A (Feminille), in Sweden first in the Elittetan (above D1) and ending my career with Morön BK as one of the top four midfielders nominated for the 2020 season. In December 2020, I joined Pitea in the Damallsvenskan league which is the highest division of the Swedish women’s league. Unfortunately, due to travel restrictions because of Covid-19, I arrived in Pitea only in February 2021. However, I sustained a concussion during pre-season and only recovered/began playing at the start of the Fall season which began August.
In comparison, playing collegiate in the U.S. versus professionally overseas, specifically in Sweden or elsewhere in Europe, I believe is more demanding than that in the U.S. For example, while in the U.S. playoffs determine champions while in Europe like Sweden, they are based on their regular season record but also continue to compete or win national and European-wide cups or tournaments to determine their ranking. Teams that do not perform well are relegated to the lower division. From my experience, playing style is also different. While in the U.S., they play a combination of both conditioning and possession in comparison to Sweden or other European countries, long balls and reliability on tall players to head the ball into the goal on set plays. Though, this really depends on the coach, their style, and what he or she feels best suits the players or team and their goal to be successful. From my perspective some European teams like Spain or Italy rely majority of the time on possession and connecting passes. A player sometimes needs to adapt to what the players or team is well suited and how one can bring their strengths to adjust for the team to win.
Q: What do you think about your current team and any expectations/goals this season?
KG: Because of my injury sustained during pre-season, I’m adjusting to the team’s style of playing. One possible room of improvement is my confidence to continue taking players on. Likewise, one strength is the ability to change directions or speed and my vision of the field. I must admit, I do make mistakes and try not to repeat the same whenever possible. The team is also currently going thru changes with new recruits, player injuries as well as players contracting C-19. The team is gradually getting back on track. My goal for the season is to be able to contribute as I have in my previous team(s) both as an offensive and defensive player.
Q: How much do you know about Filipino football?
KG: To be honest a year ago my college coach had asked if I have tried out for the Philippine Women’s National team. It was then that it piqued my curiosity and asked myself what if. Thus my journey of research began of what are the requirements. It is similar like the U.S. going through the structure, walk-in, citizenship, etc. I also tried to check the website and saw some games played in the 2018 AFC, the team’s profile and members, etc.
Q: Any football idols?
KG: Of course like many others I like CR7 but asides from him I really enjoy watching Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Antoinne Greizmann for their movement off the ball, passing abilities, and play making.