The Orlando Pride roster draws on twenty players from three different countries. Amongst those twenty players are three from Australia (Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway, and Steph Catley) and three from Brazil (Camila, Marta, and Monica). So, how does the team break down international barriers?
“Honestly, I don’t really feel like there are any international barriers,” Catley said. “When you put on the purple jersey, everyone is playing for the same team and working towards the same goal. So, there hasn’t been anything worked towards there, it just kind of happens naturally.”
“I only see the positive side of things,” Monica said. “It helps us bring the things that we learn when we represent our countries together and unite them.”
The only difficulty that any of the player’s mentioned was a language barrier. But as Monica and Camila spend more time playing with the girls, they learn more English and are better able to communicate with their teammates.
“There is a bit of a language barrier with the Brazilians, but Monica’s English has picked up really well, from what I’ve heard, and she’ll take Camila under her wing,” Kennedy said. “The combination of all nations, as well as the girls we have here on the team already, is looking good and there’s a great chemistry.”
It helps that many of the Pride’s internationals come from the same countries. Monica and Marta have played together for years. Kennedy already had experience playing alongside Catley and Alleway on Australia’s national team defense. It helps make players feel connected and instantly welcomed.
“I think to be honest the places we’ve gotten our internationals from are pretty similar. You’ve got the Brazilians, you’ve got the Australians, and you’ve got obviously the Americans,” Catley said. “But I’ve played with Alanna before, I’ve played with Laura before, and obviously the other girls, but for Alanna coming in, if she’s coming in at the left centerback than she’s playing next to me, who she’s played with for years. So, it kind of makes it a seamless transition for them which is good for the team in general.”
“Football speaks its own language,” Kennedy said. “I definitely think we’ve brought that together and tried to use each other’s strengths.”
