Representing your country is a privilege but leading your country is an honour.
These are the thoughts of former national senior women’s footballer Gabriella Lopez, who enjoyed a 13-year career of international football, where she led the team for what she describes as nine unforgettable years.
“My experiences as a national player were like no other; facing fierce competition which allowed me and my teammates to see our true potential. It is an amazing experience to look back on and cherish,” said Lopez.
Lopez was born into sports as her father Sydney Lopez was a former national tennis champion and this is where her passion for sports began.
At five years-old while a student at the St Angela’s School, a courageous Lopez enrolled in the Professional Soccer School (now Pro Shotta), for whom she represented for her entire youth tenure.
The multi-skilled athlete was also an avid track and field athlete, where she represented her primary school and later on the St Michael School in the national athletic school championships and she also delved into a bit of basketball to test her athletic capabilities.
During a time, where female footballers were few, Lopez decided to dismiss the traditional norms of netball, ballet and dolls, and follow her passion, even if it meant rumbling and tumbling with the boys.
“When I started playing football and ultimately all through my primary career there was no official girls or women’s programme at the time, so playing with boys, in my eyes seemed normal because there were no other options for girls.”
Lopez described the experience as an enjoyable and safe one, thanks to her team mates at primary and secondary school and club where she was the captain of the team at some point during her tenure.
She said the parents and coaches always made her feel comfortable and accepted, she jokingly stated that sometimes she felt that the coaches expected more of her than the boys.
Outstanding performances for school and club, earned the combative midfielder a place on the senior women’s squad at 14 years old on their tour to St Vincent & the Grenadines, in preparation for their World Cup qualifiers in Cuba.
This would be the beginning of a life changing journey.
After years of consistent performances at the international level, Lopez was offered an opportunity to improve her life.
“Three years of traveling with the national team, it was time to blend my sporting abilities with my academics.
I received a full scholarship to New Mexico State University, where I spent my first year of college, however due to a family matter I traveled to the east coast to Temple University to be closer to family.
At Temple I had a great experience playing at one of the highest levels in college soccer.”
At the end of her 3-year stint at Temple University, where she gained a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Mass Communication, Lopez was not finish and wanted to take on the challenge of coaching at the collegiate level.
Cedar Crest College was her next destination where she was the assistant coach and head recruiter, while earning her Master’s Degree in Education.
With a shift in responsibility and career ambitions Lopez returned to Barbados, where she played for a few more years before retiring.
“I moved back home to settle down as a mother to my daughter Sienna. As Sienna grew older, I felt like being a mom became more demanding and this along with my promotion as deputy principal at the institution where I teach, was more than enough reason for me to finally hang up my boots. I currently have an extremely busy schedule as both a mom and deputy principal.”
The 29-year-old admits her career ended early, however she is thankful for all of her national team experiences, as they helped in the development of her character and other roles in her life.
Lopez said there were so many good moments as a national ambassador and it would be impossible to highlight just one, however the one gloomy experience she can recall is the 2018 Windward Islands Cup encounter versus Grenada where they were defeated 2-1 in the dying minutes of the match.
Switching roles from player to coach, to now soccer mom, Lopez spends her time in the game supporting Sienna who is seemingly on a similar pathway to her mother as she participates in tennis and football.
Lopez believes there are more pathways for females in the game and the status of the local female game can be improved with greater attention.
“I honestly haven’t been too involved with female football. I personally feel like there isn’t enough being done for the females and ultimately it seems like it’s been stagnant. I think the sport in general needs to be sensitized so that more girls are aware of the sport itself and the opportunities that it has to offer beyond just a pastime.”
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