1. Right after you wake up – What is your morning routine?
I wake up at 7am, take a shower, and get ready. I don’t eat first thing in the morning, but I always have a glass of pure orange juice before catching the train to the Football Sports Academy.
2. What do you think you would eat on a typical work day?
breakfast? Once we arrive at the sports academy, we plan to have breakfast. Two Weetabix.
lunch? Lunch will probably be pasta with tomato and basil sauce.
Dinner? Dinner is usually a stir-fry, lasagna, or some kind of balanced meal. On game day, I always eat the same tomato and basil pasta.
3. Is nutrition important to you – do you take any health supplements?
Nutrition is important to me as it helps with development and ensures that they have access to carbohydrates as a source of energy. At this time, I am not taking any health supplements, except for multivitamin tablets.
4. Have you ever gone on a diet? If so, how was it?
No, I’ve never been on a diet. Although I consider dieting to be a short-term goal, eating healthy in general should be a lifestyle choice. But sometimes I think I can get away with a snack or two.
5. What is your weekend reward?
My weekend treat is honey chili chicken from a good Chinese restaurant or takeout.
6. How do you stay physically and mentally healthy?
Currently, I am training every day at the sports academy. We train the club sometimes twice a day, most nights except on Fridays (before the season starts). I feel that physical training keeps my mental health in good condition as I have developed good habits. I also like to use visualization meditation for what I do on the pitch.
7. What are your best daily fitness tips?
Do something, no matter how small, set small goals for yourself and feel a sense of accomplishment.
8. Were you a fan of sports or PE at your school or do you have any memories from those days that you wish you could forget?
I love sports in general and it was my favorite subject at school.
9. Stop or drink?
Teetotal – I’m not 18 yet, but I don’t plan on drinking alcohol as it would negatively affect my performance.
10. Stairs or elevator?
I take the stairs – elevators are scary.
11. What book are you reading now?
Beth Mead’s lioness – my journey to glory.
12. Best Netflix/Streaming TV?
Currently watching Fool Me Once On Netflix.
13. Do you have any new skills or hobbies?
No, I don’t have any new skills or hobbies. I’m just always trying to progress in football. I was very excited to sign on the dotted line with the Crusaders and play as a number 10 striker. That said, I think soccer provides players with all kinds of good life skills.
14. How do you relax?
Relaxation for me is lying in bed and watching Netflix. I always like watching Arsenal Women’s matches on TV.
15. What would you tell your younger self?
I’m still young, but if you want to do something, just do it. When I was younger, there were times when I was the only girl at a football club or football camp, but that didn’t change my mind. I continued to do that and scored 10 goals in my debut season at Linfield. I was captain of the Bob Docherty Cup U15 team, moved up the ranks and was called up to the U19 squad at the age of 16. I kept telling myself that I had done a good job of following my dream.
16. What are your future goals?
My short-term goal is to be the top scorer in the NIFL Premiership and win a silver medal. I sincerely hope that in the new season we can win some trophies and move up the rankings. My long-term goal is to develop myself into the best player I can be and play soccer full-time professionally across the ocean.
17. What time do you go to bed? Do you think you get enough sleep?
Yes, I always try to get about 8 or 9 hours of sleep. Some days I get more sleep if I take a short nap between soccer practices.
18. What is your biggest frustration or regret?
When you’re preparing for a football game and the game gets canceled…
19. Have your priorities and perspectives in life changed?
I realized that I had made the decision to prioritize my football training over what many of my friends were doing at this stage in my life. For example, missing many parties. Although I am young, I have good experience playing internationally, not only at first team level, but also for the U17 and U19 national teams.
20. Has the coronavirus or any health epiphany or life event changed your attitude towards your own death?
My father has mental health issues and told me to do whatever is right for me and what I enjoy. And most importantly, never give up.
