Nguenar Ndiaye: '' football is in me ''
**Nguenar Ndiaye, international striker of AS Dakar Sacré Coeur twice crowned `` Woman of the match '' and author of four goals in two games at the TotalEnergies African Women's Champions League qualifying tournament in Mindelo (July 24 to 30 ) speaks in this interview about his love for football, his hobbies and his ambitions.
**
Question: When did you start playing football?
**Answer :**Truly I can't tell you but what is certain I feel like I always played soccer with boys, I can't tell you exactly when but I always loved playing soccer with my friends. I had no girlfriends, I was the company of the boys until a lover of women's football, Tchampou (Jean Pierre) Corréa from the Dorades de Mbour spotted me and told my uncles about the possibilities that might arise. 'offer to me by playing in his team. He went to talk to my parents (father and mother) who gave their blessing because they knew I loved football. And little by little, I started training and playing at Dorades, then at AFA in Dakar before finally joining Dakar Sacré Coeur during the Division 1 play-offs this year (2020).
Your model of footballer?
It's Messi (Lionel, Argentinian from FC Barcelona) because he can do everything with a ball. I want in the future, that we speak of Nguenar (Ndiaye) as we speak today of Messi. I'm going to give myself the means to get there because I don't do anything other than football. No sport or other game is of interest to me. Only football counts for me, is worthy of interest and today that I have the chance to evolve in a high level club and in followed competitions, I enjoy myself and hope to achieve my goal: to sign for a club professional to make a living from football.
How will TotalEnergies WCL impact your football career?
I expect a lot. Already in terms of the game, I saw that the teams present here are well established and this competition has really nothing to do with the matches played in Senegal and even I can tell you that it is of a much better level. that the West Zone A tournament played in February 2019 in Sierra Leone. And since it's currently working for me, it's going to stay in my head for good. It's not every day that you get called 'Woman of the Match' in a tournament. And as I said in the previous interviews I want to end with all the individual and collective trophies possible at the end of the competition.
Question: What are your ambitions for this 2020-2021 sports season?
Answer: I was lucky to have started it well with AFA in Senegalese D2 where I scored 20 goals before joining AS Dakar Sacré Coeur where I scored nine goals in the play-offs. And currently, it continues in the desired direction and this tournament has convinced me that I can play against the best. I learn every day as the matches approach and I know that I can still improve a lot, especially in front of goals. I have to be even more of a killer in the penalty area. And I hope that at the end of this competition, I will find a professional contract to sign away and live from my passion as a footballer.
Doesn't football have a negative impact on your status as a Senegalese woman?
Not at all, I cook and love to simmer small dishes even though I don't live with my family. At home, I cook regularly when I am with my parents. It is true that I am not in the great artifices of the canons of Senegalese feminine beauty. But, I know how to take my time to make myself beautiful even if I am more comfortable with shorts than with dresses and other big boubous. I remain a Senegalese woman and the day I have a husband, I could agree to compromise on clothing. Being a footballer doesn't mean being careless on the right toilet. I like to be very clean, I love good scents and above all I love football. And that's my main focus.
If a young girl comes to you for advice on playing football, what will your answers be?
I would tell him the truth. That it is really difficult but also it is very rewarding. That it is very holy and that does not prevent living her life as a woman of her time. I would encourage him to play football and to give himself the means to reach the very top level. Football is big meetings and that can open very big doors for you. I have traveled and I have dreams in my head to make my main hobby my job. There is nothing more beautiful in my opinion. But nothing is given, you have to know how to fight and be able to accept sacrifices. When the other girls are dressing up to go to ceremonies or to party, we must be ready to make sacrifices to go to train or go to play football. And I can assure you that it is not easy in a country like Senegal.
(c) zoneouesta.org