This summer, Jimena Gongora moved to the Pyunik Girls team. The Colombian started her football career in her native country, then continued it in Saudi Arabia and now she has reached Armenia. Jimena has participated in the Champions League matches with our team and currently has positive statistics for a central defender; 2 goals in 6 games.
We talked with Simena about her football dreams and preferences in Armenia.
- Pyunik and you...
- For me it was a big surprise to receive an offer from here, since I didn't know much about the country or women's football... but talking to my agent, it didn't take me long to say yes, since we knew I would play in the Champions League. and it could be a boost for my career. I searched about the country, the team on social networks and I said yes.
-You and Armenia...
- I didn't know much about the country before coming here. It is a very beautiful country and its people.
- You received an offer to join the champion of Armenia, who had got a historic achievement, what would you say about this?
- I want to be a champion here, that's why I came. All the teams go out to beat us, but we have very good players, a good team and we all want the same thing to go out and win every game and become champions. That's our mentality.
- You have played in Colombia; what differences would you point out?
-In Colombia we have more teams, there are almost 17 teams, soccer is more physical there, in South America we call it "garra". There is a lot of difference with football here in Armenia, but here it is more organized, it has a league that lasts almost 9 months, the games are consecutive, in Colombia the league only lasts 4 months and that is what has not allowed things to improve.
-You managed to show a good performance in the Champions League, but you didn’t manage to come back with a victory, what was missing?
-It was a good experience for the entire team, in my opinion we played two good games but things didn't go as well as we wanted. If we qualify again everything will be different since we know that we failed the first time and we would have a good tournament.
-How did you feel about getting a chance to play in the Champions League?
-I have played outside my country for 5 years and I have been a professional player for 9 years... but so far I have to say the best thing I have experienced in soccer is having played in the Champions League. It's the best thing that could have happened to me... but I can't stop at that now I know I have to work twice as hard to make it happen again.
-What attracted you in Armenia?
-I like the coffee here (laughs).
-What Armenian words have you learned?
-I wanted to learn the basics (smiles). Barev, vonc es, lav, lavna, haskacar, ayo, apres, xndrem, hastat, che, kneres, lsi, bari luys, vat… I also learned the numbers, mek, erku, ereq, chors, hing, that’s all.
