There’s obviously a lot going on behind the scenes and I’m just keeping up to date with things like that.” “Things like that” are hugely rewarding and Bronze gets pleasure out of elements that could seem tedious but contribute to the wider game and its growth. We’re in quite similar positions as older players who’ve lived so much of the game and want to give so much back and we feel like we’ve got so many great ideas to help so many people and that there’s so much to be done but you just want to do it all tomorrow. At the start of the month the defender backed the threat of a European boycott of Fifa competitions, regardless of what it meant for her football ambitions, telling the New Zealand Herald: “It’s for the future of the game and not just for me today and tomorrow.” In a press conference on Tuesday before Chelsea’s 5-2 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier, Bronze explained why she had shared the social media post of the former France defender Mikaël Silvestre, who is on Fifa’s players’ voice panel, which said “change is necessary” at the top of the game.
She says, with a wry smile: “Sarina [the England head coach, Sarina Wiegman] is the one who’s always blocked it because she said that she didn’t want me travelling there before a tournament and getting jet-lagged, especially before the World Cup in Australia. She blocked it then and she blocked it before the Euros because we didn’t have a lot of time. She was like: ‘Lucy, it’s not a good idea for your body.’ So, that’s been planned for a long time.” The trip to Colombia, which according to the UNHCR is facing a humanitarian crisis and has about 2.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants and seven million people who are internally displaced, was worth the Wiegman-enforced wait.
A lot of people don’t necessarily know so much. I guess now that there’s been the earthquake in Venezuela people know a bit more, but it’s generally not spoken about as much because it’s Venezuela to Colombia compared to like, Ukrainians to wealthier countries like England or Germany. They don’t know why they’re in that position and it’s not their fault, it’s just the life that’s been put in front of them and they just make the most of the smallest of things.
It was a tiring time, emotionally and physically, but it was powerful seeing so much good work being done too.” Experiencing the resilience and joy of children in the worst of circumstances is “really moving” says Bronze. So I told this girl Nay’s story, and this kid’s face just lit up. I showed her pictures of Nay playing for America and I gave her her shirt.
This girl was so excited because while it’s not someone in the exact same situation, it’s someone whose family had to rebuild their lives and she could see her own life in it and how amazing she’s doing now.” Helping people on and off the pitch gives Bronze energy. There is excitement for the new season with Chelsea’s changed and young team under Sonia Bompastor after a high-energy pre-season.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
