Sofie Beene, Windesheim student Education in Primary Schools, has chosen adventure! Since August she has been playing soccer for Seirines Grevenon, a club in the second-highest level of Greek soccer. “They really made me feel welcome.”
Do you already speak a little Greek?
“Mwah, just some basics. Like ‘kalispéra’ which means ‘good afternoon’. Or ‘ti kanis?’ when you ask ‘how are you doing?’ It really is a difficult language. A lot of English is spoken on the soccer field, but also Greek, most of which I don’t understand. I do know ‘pása piso’ by now; you say that when you want someone to return the ball.”
Greece… sun, beautiful islands and picturesque villages?
“I live and play soccer in Grevena, which is in the middle of the mainland and therefore far from the coast, unfortunately. Beforehand, I also thought the weather in Greece would always be nice, but last winter it actually snowed here. I texted that to a friend in the Netherlands and she reacted very surprised: huh, snow in Greece?! Now that we are heading towards summer, it is getting warmer and warmer. It is over twenty degrees every day, lovely!”
Grevena is a nice little town where there isn’t much to do. In terms of population, it is comparable to Nijverdal, where I come from. It is situated between the mountains and is known for its edible mushrooms, the truffles. Apparently, it is a thing here to go hunting for them with trained dogs. I can mostly be found on the soccer field, and besides that, I like to go for a drink in the center. For example, with my Greek housemate and teammate, or the three Kenyan girls from our team, who also enjoy a good time.”
How did you actually end up there?
“Through my soccer agent, he knew a club in Greece that was looking for a attacker. It appealed to me immediately. Something completely different for a change; different people, a different environment. I played in the AZ youth academy before this, so I am really completely out of my comfort zone.
To be honest, I found it quite difficult at first. I ended up in a completely new environment where I didn’t know anyone and didn’t have any friends yet. Fortunately, the Greeks are very open and hospitable; they really try to make you feel welcome. For example, when I first arrived here, my coach and his wife invited me to dinner. Something like that wouldn’t happen in the Netherlands. By now, I’m completely used to it and I’m having a wonderful time.”
Do you actually go to school there too?
“Yes, I am a third-year Education in Primary Schools student and have been taking a minor here since February at the Department of Early Childhood, that aligns well with my study programme. I go to school three days a week. For all courses, I write essays and give online presentations to my lecturers at Windesheim.”
And things are going well as far as soccer is concerned, right?
“Indeed! We are at the top and can become champions; the last match of the season is at the end of April. We recently played against our rivals, a tense match, but we won. As a result, our chances have increased significantly.
Soccer is really big here; I hadn’t expected that beforehand. More people come to watch here than in the Netherlands, easily a few hundred per match. I regularly see people with horns in the stands, and recently there was even a group of people in the stands playing samba music. That was really fun!
The level is a bit lower than I’m used to. They play a lot of long balls forward here, like: you’re the striker, good luck and do something good with it! I found that quite difficult at first, but it’s getting better and better now.”
Are you adding another soccer season in Greece?
“I haven’t decided on that yet; I might go back to the Netherlands as well. It depends on the possibilities regarding my study programme. I can combine playing soccer nicely with the minor right now, but next year I have to do a lot of interning, which means teaching at a school. Because of the language, it will be difficult to do that in Greece.
Whether the club would want me for another year? We haven’t discussed that yet. I have played every game, score regularly, and provide many assists, so I am certainly satisfied myself. I definitely do not regret this move.”
text: Wouter van Emst
photos: provided by Sofie Beene
