Music, Mascots, Teammates
Kathellen Sousa Feitoza, Brazil
My name is Kathellen Sousa Feitoza. I am from the beach area of São Paulo, born in Santos, and my family lives in Praia Grande at the moment. I have been playing for Real Madrid in Spain since August 2022. My last game with Real Madrid was May 27, and since then I was preparing myself to be part of the final squad of the Brazilian National team, getting myself mentally ready, and improving fitness.
I started playing football like most of the girls in Brazil, playing with boys in the street. I mostly played futsal until my 18th birthday, when I saw no future for myself in the area I was living. There was not much opportunity to do what I loved doing, which is playing football. So I decided to leave my country in May 2014 and play in a junior college in New York, Monroe College.
In the USA, I saw the opportunity to play football and study, and keep developing myself as an athlete and person. I went from there to University of Louisville and finished my last year at UCF, one of the biggest universities in the USA. And there I had an amazing season, I was #18 of the top #100 players NCAA All-Southeast Region and AAC defender of the year.
After this amazing year, I got my first professional opportunity. I moved to France in 2018, and signed my first professional contract with Bordeaux. In August 2020 I signed with Inter Milan, before signing with Real Madrid in August 2022, where I am currently playing.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I took photos of my Brazilian teammates, at our beautiful Granja Comary training center in Brazil and when we arrived in the Gold Coast in Australia. You can see us preparing, training, getting instructions from Pia, and recovering after a hard day of training by the pool. I tried to show my days with my teammates, the people that work with me in pursuit of the same goal. These people motivate me to keep pushing to keep improving.
The photo of Monica, Gabi Nunes, and I represents us so much. When we talk about Brazilian football, you have to relate to ritmo, and music. We love to sing to get the emotions out, to share experiences, to share emotions, and memories with music. And we love to dance. This is something we do often, getting together to sing, listen to music, and dance.
Debinha is one of our best players. She has amazing skill and is an amazing person. She was holding a jacket from Cimed, our sponsor of medicine and vitamins. I love the jacket because it is personalized with our mascot Canarinho. Debinha represents Brazil so well, it was just a perfect combination.
On our media day, I showed Antonia in our locker room! It shows our beautiful Brazilian women, the beautiful colors, and I love how everything matches - the locker room with the jersey, the jersey with the player. Everything is made to be where it is.
Marta, Rafaelle, Andressa, Tainara, Geyse, Duda Sampaio, Bárbara, Debinha, and I went for a walk on one of the first days in Australia. We wanted to admire the view of the place where we were and enjoy each other’s company.
What are the opportunities and challenges for women’s footballers in Brazil (and Spain)? What changes have you seen in women’s football since you started playing?
Today I see more people supporting and following women’s football. There are more opportunities of playing with many football clubs which are creating women’s teams, in both Brazil and Spain. For example with Real Madrid, where the women’s team is new.
The future looks brighter than ever. I see the women’s football game stepping up, I see people wanting to know more about the sport.
What role does football play in your community and Brazilian society?
For me football has a big opportunity to change lives. Football teaches us to be responsible, dedicated, mentally strong, passionate, to work as a group and I believe we can take this into daily life in society.
Football means happiness, and the opportunity of getting out of bad paths like drugs, violence, and other bad things. Football and sport in general is a perfect way to keep the minds of children healthy and busy.
What does football mean to you?
Football represents everything to me and my country: hope, faith, passion, fun. I grew up playing football in the street, it was a cheap way to have fun, it was my way to clear my mind. It is my way to be myself. During periods without football, I get lost in my chaotic mind of thinking too much.
What are your personal ambitions for the future?
In the short term, win the World Cup! And then win a trophy with Real Madrid, and win the Olympics with Brazil. With it, I aim to keep improving myself as a person and professional and helping people around me.
