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VIVA hotshot Catherine Martin hopes her Manchester United dream trip will help her fulfil her goal of one day wearing a Bahraini national team shirt.
She was one of 18 youngsters handpicked by the English Premiership club’s visiting coaches to take part in a summer training camp in the UK organised by the telecom operator.
Now she aims to prove her worth on the pitch representing the country she calls home as well as being an inspiration to children suffering from diabetes.
Bahrain soccer officials first noticed Catherine’s playing prowess when she was spotted in action at the Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain. It is now hoped that she will be offered Bahraini citizenship so she can join the women’s U16 squad set to compete in an international cup competition later this year.
Catherine, 13, a Year Nine student at St Christopher’s School living in Janabiyah, said: “I was approached by officials after playing against the national team in a friendly for Arsenal. It all happened a month before I went to London to experience the Viva Manchester United Soccer School Programme – luckily picked for the trip after hundreds had applied for places.
“I joined in a few training sessions with the nationals, helped by a translator, before my summer holidays and even took part in some friendly matches with them and now I’m training with the squad for five evenings a week.”
She is hoping the necessary paperwork will be carried out in time for her to join the squad officially on the trip to Jordan where Bahrain’s young women will face the might of Asian football.
“I would be so proud to get a Bahraini passport and play for the national team. I’m really happy about it. Bahrain is my home and I am excited about representing it,” she said.
“The team has already really helped me in learning how to play the game more technically and also showed me how to take the game more seriously.”
Catherine’s father, Steve, is assistant head teacher and geography master at St Christopher’s School and her mother Patricia is an English and History teacher at the Isa Town site.
Mr Martin, who comes from the north-east English soccer stronghold of Sunderland, said: “The Manchester United programme was a big deal for her but the highlight of her career was when she was selected for the national squad.
“Patricia and I are proud of her becoming a real Bahraini girl in that respect and being able to play for her adopted country at this time. Football is her passion and she lives for it.”
Catherine was diagnosed as suffering from diabetes at the age of five but it did not stop her from being an active young sportswoman or hamper her dreams of one day winning a US soccer scholarship and becoming a professional footballer.
Diabetes describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.
Patients with early-onset diabetes need to take insulin injections or pumps for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet.
She said: “I’m on an insulin pump, not injections. Before training I will have something to eat if my blood test is a bit low and then I will take off my pump and give it to my dad. Sometimes it’s a struggle but it’s something I have to live with.
“There are times like last year when I suffered a fit because my blood sugar count went really low and I was rushed to hospital but I haven’t had any other incidents like that since.
“I find that football has helped me improve my health. I’m a lot fitter so my blood levels are more in control than before.
“There are other athletes combating and living with the disease and I believe that if you have a dream you should not quit, no matter what the obstacle. You should never give up on your dreams.”
Midfielder Catherine, who also plays in the centre and right back positions, has been inspired by Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain coach Deena Abdel Rahman, who plays international football with the Bahrain senior women’s team.
“She is always looking out for me. I’ve learned a lot from her,” said the schoolgirl.
Catherine went on the VIVA adventure in a party of top young players from Bahrain and amongst them was her close friend, Egyptian Farah Ghalia, who already holds a Bahraini passport.
Both girls had been selected to join the U16 Bahrain national team and officials have high hopes for the side when it competes in an Asian Football Confederation U16 Women’s Championship to be held in Jordan in November.
Goalkeeper Farah, 15, a Year 11 student at St Christopher’s School, from Hamad Town, said: “My father Sherief and mother Samar are both really proud to see me on the Bahrain team. They love that I’m committed to football and dedicated to the sport.”
Her potential was first spotted by the national’s former manager Eliana Rahbany 18 months ago when Farah was playing in a tournament staged at Ibn Khuldoon National School.
Since their return from their summer holidays both Farah and Catherine have been working to improve their soccer skills. They start special fitness sessions this week and Farah will begin her preparations with goalkeeping coach Abdulla Belal, who also played for Riffa and the national team during the 1980s and 1990s.
Coach Adel Al Marzooqi, Riffa’s former international midfielder, is thrilled with the talents of both players and is eager for Catherine to be a fully-fledged member of the squad as soon as possible.
He said: “The girls have been training hard on a regular basis preparing for this competition. Some will even be training with the senior national women’s team to get a better idea of what’s to come.
“The team is still growing together as we have recruited some new girls with good potential. The girls are working hard and I like the fact that they help each other on and off the pitch.
“Farah is an excellent goalkeeper and we are expecting good things from her. She has good skills and I think will prove herself in this competition. She even has the potential of joining the senior team soon.
“As for Catherine, I hope we find a solution for her in terms of the passport fast. I really want her to be with us because she is a strong asset to the squad.
“Her skills and capabilities are great and she provides solutions on the pitch. Inshallah she becomes part of the team.”
The head of the national women’s football team Shaikha Hessa bint Khaled Al Khalifa, hopes to sort out the necessary paperwork when she returns from a trip to London.
