Cristina Stefania Caseriu.

It’s not a lie when I say I’ve sacrificed and worked effortlessly to pave my way within the footballing world. From school football fighting my way to be accepted as one of the boys in the playground to be picked on their teams to undergoing several trials both failed and successful to be able to make it within WSL academy football. Running on pure passion and determination both from myself and my parents we never gave up and getting accepted to tottenhams u16 and u21 teams made me realise that this is what I want to make a career out of. After being released for no clear and concise reason I was accepted into Watfords u23 team where I had the best season of my life, being captain, starting 11, 90 minutes every match, being a key player in a team that made me feel seen and appreciated which was such a difference from the whole wsl system set up where there was so much pressure to play and perform. Even when I did get little playing time I made the most of it, and tried to continue following that positive beacon of light that was urging me to keep pushing and playing. Lots of people ask me my favourite footballing memory. Without a doubt scoring a bicycle kick in the 90th minute against West Ham and getting an assist all within the last 10 minutes. Lack of playing time shakes your confidence down to the core. It was a season combined with the pressures of school that almost made me want to quit. But Watford saved me and that season with the u23s brought back the love I always had for football out again. The fighting didn’t stop however. As a player my ambition has always been to be the best midfielder in the women’s game and I always looked and wanted more for myself. After the 2nd season at Watford I knew it was time for a change. I knew I wanted to play professional and it felt like now or never. I took the biggest risk and decided to take a chance playing back in my home country România for George Hagi ( Romanian legend) academy Farul Constanta. I received a lot of criticism and doubt both from family/friends and everyone I knew. As a footballer I wanted to already set habits in a professional environment and this was my chance. Now it’s a point where there are ups and downs, good sessions and amazing sessions, fighting injuries and keeping morale up in a country and team that deems me a stranger. I deserve to be seen because I want to inspire girls like me. Who want to become someone in women’s football, who love the game, who have struggled to be accepted in a team, who have struggled with minutes, who wanted to quit, who took a risk, who want to make their younger self and everyone around them proud for making a dream come true. That’s why I deserve to be seen and that’s why I deserve to be nominated. Because football is a cruel and harsh world where good players are turned down and not given a chance. But every diamond that is given a chance to shine is worth it and my dream of playing at the highest level of football still stands and being able to get selected will be one more step for me in achieving my dream and inspiring young girls who share the same dream as me.