“Before, in these types of tournaments, there were girls who had not even stepped foot on the league field. That changed”: what is behind this historic women’s Under 20?

—How do you explain the performance of the Peruvian Under 20 girls in the South American Championship?

First, I am very happy for this achievement that the Under 20 team has had, since since 2006 it was the last minor team that managed to reach the final phase or in 2005 when we (senior team) won Los Bolivarianos. I think there are several aspects. A very important one is that many of these girls have added many minutes in teams such as Sporting Cristal, Alianza Lima, Universitario and some that play in the province. It has been very important that they have been part of the Women’s League since last year.

—How key has it been to have filming to achieve this feat?

Before, in this type of championships, the girls went and had not even stepped foot on the grass of the Peruvian League. It has been very important for the friction, the gaming experience, above all. It must be recognized that the hiring of Emily Lima along with her technical command was a success. What Jaqueline Ucella, coach of the Sub 20, is doing has been very important in terms of trust, work, since they all follow the same guidelines for all categories and that bears fruit.

— Is classification possible?

I got on the World Cup qualification bus a long time ago and I won’t get off for anything, because I have a lot of confidence and faith in this team. They are girls with a lot of personality.

—What is your ranking of the Under 20 soccer players? Is there a player who surprised you?

For me it has been a joint effort, the starters, substitutes and the technical team. There are players who have stood out a lot like Valery Gherson, Birka Ruiz, who is one of those who has surprised me physically, I couldn’t understand how she kept running. I liked Mía León because of her intelligence when playing. She is brave and mentally very strong.

—What memories of when the Bolivarians won?

I remember a lot that someone told us after the first or second game: ‘Girls, you’ve already gotten on the champion’s bus.’ Sometimes you feel or have that feeling, right? I want to believe and think that these girls have already gotten on the classification bus. They have all the potential to do it.

—Why wasn’t women’s soccer professionalized after becoming champion in the Bolivarians?

Perhaps the achievement we had had in promoting women’s football was not realized at that time because there were wrong people in the FPF. It was a shame, because it was an important achievement. If they gave us more weapons we would have achieved a little more, like that qualification for the World Cup that we were looking for so much.

—Do you see any similarities between that Bolivarian team in 2005 and the current Sub 20?

Each team has its virtues; Something that makes me remember a lot about this Sub 20 team in 2005 is perhaps the physical aspect. As I experienced it, I always felt that after a game I could play another. These girls have played one day, four games, one day, but even though you see that in moments when the physical issue takes its toll, despite this, they continued. The physical aspect has continued and has been decisive, since if your legs don’t give you, no matter how strong your mind is, that is not the case. That is something in which this Under 20 team is very similar to that 2005 team. Obviously, the desire to be able to achieve and achieve the goal. That gives confidence and self-esteem, since you don’t go out saying well, I hope we can achieve something. We have everything to achieve it.

—So, the environment has been key to gaining confidence…

The environment has helped a lot and gives you confidence. Another thing that is similar to the 2005 team is that the technical command gives you that confidence to work with you not only in the tactical and mental aspect. That injection of confidence is very important and is one of the things that I highlight. This technical command from Jaqueline Ucella has given them that extra bit that was needed for the girls to go out and kill.

—The clubs or the FPF, regarding this achievement, what should they do in the medium or long term?

The FPF must continue to promote and support this sport, continue to respect the process of this technical command led by Emily Lima and support it in everything that high-level football requires. Establishing strategic alliances with companies that invest and support exclusively women’s football and that is reflected not only in the national team, but also in the League, more commitment is needed. Investing in the future, if these little ones are managing to advance among the best 6 in South America, it is not a coincidence, it is because they have been able to participate in the League and in minor tournaments, imagine what they could achieve with a better budget and organization.

—If Peru qualifies, how should this group be taken care of and if the objective is not achieved, what would you suggest improving?

No matter what happens, the most important thing is to trust this process and continue to support it. Peru has shown a lot of improvement, especially at this youth level, who now also have better physical and soccer preparation in their respective teams. Let’s hope that not only the big clubs, but little by little also the others can align themselves and have better projects for women’s football in the long term.