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One of the team’s most stable players, who demonstrated assured play last season, put his signature on the contract for next year and will continue to defend the honor of the Šiauliai team.
The defender, who turns 27 on January 27, remained loyal to Gintra’s team and hopes that next season will be full in all aspects. Alika arrived in Lithuania last spring, just before the start of the global coronavirus pandemic, which fundamentally changed not only the starting plans for the season, but also the course of the entire season.
“It was a difficult period, we didn’t even know how to stay in Lithuania or go to the United States. Of course, it was difficult for everyone, the whole world of sport was paralyzed, we were no exception. After discussing the situation with the club leadership, we decided to “wait” and then I never regretted this decision. It was very disappointing that we ended the season with such a loss. We have to learn these lessons and demonstrate a stronger backbone next season, ”said the player who became the Lithuanian champion, who managed to show his other talent to the Lithuanian media in the spring: playing the guitar and singing.
The works done by A. Keene were heard on the sports news of almost all Lithuanian TV channels, he also sang live at the 2020 team presentation celebration.
“I always wanted to try my luck in Europe, at the same time getting to know other cultures, people, discovering something new. I would even like to learn the Lithuanian language, although I know that it is a very complicated language,” said the legionary as soon as she arrived in the city of the Sun. Last spring.
She did not promise to learn Lithuanian, but already during the season both players and coaches noticed A. Keene’s progress in this area. When he arrived for training, the footballer, who came from the state of Florida, used to say hello in Lithuanian and, while communicating with each other in their mother tongue, the Lithuanians carefully analyzed the words and increasingly tried to strike up a conversation.
“After almost a year in Lithuania, I can only confirm that the Lithuanian language is definitely not easy. In the bottom of my heart, I was hoping to surprise those around me and myself by gaining at least a basic level, but it seems like those achievements will take me at least one more year ”, smiled the American.
When asked what the main reasons for his decision to remain on the team were, A. Keene went back in time, recalling the injury Madie Gibson suffered over the summer and the conversation between players.
“Madie suffered a serious injury in the summer, which affected us a lot. So we already talked to our teammates that if circumstances allowed, we would stay on this team no matter how the season ended. I think that by keeping most of the players, we can do a lot, and when Madie returns to the lineup, we will be even stronger. Frankly, the last game of the season, which we lost with an overwhelming result, was also one of the pillars of our determination. I would feel really bad if I left the team after such an embarrassing performance. Our team was very close and united this year, I didn’t feel that team atmosphere since my first team as a kid. The club leaders believe in us, they give us another chance, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t take advantage of it and show that we can be better, “said the defender, who was wearing a yellow-black jersey marked with the number 21.
“I want Gintra to finish the Champions League headlines early next season,” replaced by “Gintra is shaking Europe again with great victories,” added Keene.
The footballer agreed with the idea expressed by Jelena Čubrilas that the optimal preparation of the team for the highest level competition in the Champions League lacked strong opponents in the control match cycle.
“It just came to our attention then. Training, playing games, walking freely in public places, having unrestricted freedom of movement when so accessible is often simply underestimated by people. Only when freedom is restricted do we realize that we live In a world where we depend on each other. Freedom basically contains all the beauty of life. The coronavirus spoiled plans, but at the same time it taught us to adapt and appreciate what we have.
It is true that the closing of a certain “bubble” also meant that we did not have the opportunity to try our luck with strong rivals from abroad. If memory doesn’t fool me this season before the start in the Champions League, we played only three games abroad, one in Latvia and two in Estonia. “I do not think it is enough to achieve the maximum goals in Europe, especially when the local national championship is not so competitive,” said the player, assessing the circumstances of last season.
In the summer, the UEFA Champions League introduced a new format for the 2021 season that is already much more similar to the men’s. The 16 teams that reach the knockout stages will be divided into 4 subgroups starting next season. This means that the eighth final will no longer be played in the so-called “knockout” format, when the winner of the pair decides between two matches, as has been the case so far. The teams will compete in groups, which guarantees at least 6 matches, three away and at home.
Gintra has reached the eighth final twice in the club’s history, in 2014 and 2017. Starting next season, such an achievement would open up absolutely new opportunities and potentially lead to a breakthrough in women’s football in the country.
“Everything is possible, you just need to believe in yourself, your teammates, coaches and work hard to achieve this goal. And in previous years, not many people believed that Gintra could surprise Europe in this way, but it did. Of course, now that it’s just a story, we have to look forward and see what we can do together. If I didn’t believe in the potential of this team, I wouldn’t stay here. I have no doubt that after enduring this difficult season in every way, we will start the whole of next year with more energy and motivation. I believe in our team ”, concluded A. Keene calling Lithuania his second home.
We remind you that the team has already extended contracts for next season with legionaries Jelena Čubrilo and Madison Gibson, and has also signed long-term contracts with promising goalkeeper Aušrine Bikud and midfielder Dovile Dockaitė.
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