K. Jasaitytė in detail - about the influence of her father choosing football and the extraordinary waiting experience

2024-06-02 12:15 © lff.lt

Already in a little over a month, an international event will begin in Lithuania - the European U19 Girls' Championship, which will take place in Kaunas, Jonava, and Marijampolė from July 14-27.

The Lithuanian national team will participate in the tournament as hosts, playing in Group A against the peers from England, France, and Serbia.

The Lithuanian team will play all matches at the Kaunas Darius and Girėnas Stadium, where the team will be led by captain Karolina Jasaitytė.

In a detailed interview, she openly talked about growing up in a family of athletes, the influence of her father in choosing football, the upcoming championship, and a new stage in the U.S.

„I study at a sports school, it's very good that the teachers also understand that we represent Lithuania, our sport. They give us less work but equally prepare us for exams. However, you need to be able to push and challenge yourself, which can sometimes be the hardest. There is pressure both at school and at home, finding a balance is not easy, you have to be very dedicated. But I want to connect my life with football and something needs to be sacrificed“, she said about the current period marked by 12th grade exams.

–How did your first encounter with football happen?

–I lived and breathed football, spent my childhood at stadiums, watching my dad play. We went to Norway, that's where my career essentially began when I was 8-9 years old. I started playing with boys. We lived on an island where there were two teams, we had to travel and play. Then we returned to Lithuania, and I realized that I really wanted to play. Training with the girls' team began, then came the national team, it was great to receive such recognition, and that's essentially where everything started.

–Your dad was twice voted the best women's football coach in Lithuania, what is your daily life like with him - is it all about football, or do you try to stay away from that topic?

–We talk a lot about football, watch matches, discuss, and also talk a lot about the women's A league, the men's A league. Now, it's good that my mom is also involved in these conversations. My family understands me very well, supports me a lot, and sometimes puts pressure on me. When my dad was a coach, I had to work even harder to show that I don't play because of my dad, but because I can and know how to play. I learned a lot from him - as a player and as a person, I am very grateful because he showed me the way. This is the first season where we don't train together in the club or the national team, so it's also a new experience.

–Were there any extra remarks, thoughts while playing under your dad's coaching?

– People can think like that when they don't know me, but I want to show everything through my game. When people see how I play, how I fight on the field, they can't have that impression. Of course, there is pressure from everywhere, so I need to work even harder and let people see that I do everything from within myself.

–What does your rest look like, how do you like to relax?

–For me, it's being in nature, being with myself or with friends, escaping from football, but the whole environment is all about football, all the people in my life are involved in football, so sometimes it's hard to take a break from it. However, when I'm alone, with myself, reading a book or taking a walk - it still relaxes me and recharges me for the next day. Even going to watch football matches can be relaxing - not thinking directly about football, but being in it.

–How does your school life look like, how many lessons do you have to attend?

–Quite a lot, really a lot. Of course, the school schedule is quite well-balanced - after three lessons we have training, then we go back to classes. There is an opportunity to study remotely if there are longer camps. It's not easy, but I'm grateful to the teachers for understanding. In our school, it's basically all athletes, we all support each other, there is a great sense of support among different sports branches, consultations take place, and that helps to focus on exams, we chose this path ourselves.

–Do you have any rituals before matches or important tournaments?

–There must always be music on the bus, and we often sing. It's not so much about focusing but more about relieving stress. When we arrive at the stadium, the focus is already there, but there must still be music. We joke among ourselves to ease tension, we look at set plays. When the coaches arrive, we all gather in a circle, talk, then warm up, another conversation, and then the match. This really helps because we motivate each other a lot, with this team I feel like family, I know I can say anything to them and they won't be upset. It's important to connect with everyone. Other teams may have more rituals, but we have fewer.

–Speaking of the national team - what kind of game do you want to play with this team, what is the desired style?

–We will play against very strong national teams. We want to show that we can play defensive football, but at the same time, we want to support the ball and go on the attack. We are looking for ways to go on the attack, how to use set plays. We have to be realistic and understand that we are a very small country and we play against big football nations, so we have to take every opportunity.

–What benefits can this championship bring to the development of women's football in Lithuania and the country as a whole?

–For each player, this is the best opportunity to show themselves. There will be many scouts, teams watching this championship. It is important to show that we can, as a small country, perform successfully as a team, that we can represent the country properly.

This championship aims to attract more people, to show that women can play football and they can do it well. Football is the most popular sport in the world, and people should want to come and watch it. We may not have many opportunities to play against such countries, so we must appreciate it and take it as an experience for our further growth.

–After the championship, you will go to the U.S. to study and play football there. What were the motivations and expectations behind this decision?

–I had decided on this a year or two ago because the women's football level there is the highest. Through an agency, I found a university that plays in one of the best conferences. The level is very high, there are many players, though not so many foreigners. I really liked the coaching staff because the current team's coach was part of the U.S. women's national team staff during their biggest victories. I received a full scholarship, which also contributed to my desire to go there.