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Fatima Moreira de Melo

Fatima Moreira De Melo is a forward on the Dutch Women’s Hockey Team which just won the Champions’ Trophy in Amsterdam. Off The Crossbar’s European correspondent caught up with her at home in Holland.



When did you start playing hockey?

6


Why?

As being an only child my mum was keen to have me interact with others and hockey was what she chose. I loved it right away!


What position do you play?

Left wing and sometimes right wing for the Dutch team. In club hockey I play midfield as well.


So you can play many positions?

I hate defending and love attacking!


So you love scoring goals?

Well who doesn’t but I don’t judge how well I played by whether I have scored or not.


Do you find others are like that?

Well, some that’s all they do but you need both types of players.


Your team has already qualified for Sydney by winning the European championship in Cologne. The tourney obviously went well?

It was the same as many other qualification tournaments. It is so hard to be ready for the crossovers as you play such weaker oppositions in the pool matches. We played the
English in the semis and it was extremely tough. We were so excited to beat England and had to be careful not to ride that excitement into the finals against Germany. It was an exciting finals and what an amazing feeling to win!!


What assets do you bring to the worlds second best team?

I would think my ability to get corners is my greatest contribution of skill.


What are your plans for the summer?

It will be dominated by hockey of course but in July I plan to visit my boyfriend in Canada. It will be a tough summer with not seeing him for more than two weeks in five months.


After the Olympics?

If everything goes well i will be releasing and promoting my CD. I would also like to complete some more studies of my law degree.


So you are a singer as well. You are a multitalented woman?

If you want to call it that.


You are attending school at the moment?

Well a little bit. Yeah, I am but i only am attending one course right now.


How do you balance it all?

It’s a matter of doing things in phases. Everyone finds it hard to believe that i can do all of these things well. But for example now i am focusing on hockey and singing takes a back seat while after the Olympics my singing will be my focus.


Who are the best male and female hockey players?

I don’t think there really is one as it depends on the day and who plays around them.


What do you think of players being paid?

Its always nice to get a bit of money for things you do but if hockey players start to get paid like soccer players we have to be careful of what happens to hockey. We need to avoid the dark side of it. Amateurs enjoy hockey just for playing the sport and the honour of playing for your country. It’s a great feeling.


What’s the dark side of it then?

It would be the change from a goal meaning helping the team to a goal meaning dollars.


Do you get paid?

No


You were a member of the Dutch side who won a silver medal at the world cup in Utrecht in 98. How did it feel to lose that final?

It was a weird feeling as i made the team due to an injury to another player. So I was the 16th player and wasn’t expecting to see much time. I saw close to 30 minutes every game but didn’t play in the final. It felt awkward as we didn’t win and it is hard for me to say we.


Some players play for years playing less than 30 minutes a game does that mean they aren’t really part of the team?

No that’s not what I meant but its a feeling you have yourself. It was my own feeling that left me thinking about my lack of contribution.


Do you predict a Aussie vs Holland final this year?

I don’t like predicting. It may be though.


Off The Crossbar has heard that you are dating Rob Short of the Canadian national team. Assuming you both make the Olympics will it be a distraction to see him there?

Yes definitely. It will have been a few months since i had seen him so it will be tough to focus on just hockey. Will be amazing to share such an experience with him.


Do you train together?

Sometimes we run together but at times it is frustrating as he is hard to keep up with.


Do you play hockey together?

Yes sometimes we love hitting the ball together.


Who teaches who?

He teaches me when we run but I teach him in hockey obviously!


About your singing career how did it start and what do you see in the future?

It started back at the World Cup in Utrecht when i ended up singing on stage at the after party at the stadium. I was spotted by a record company and they offered me a contract. It wasn’t a good contract so i refused and since then i have been supported by a good manager and he is working on a record deal. Now it is singing lessons, working on songs and meeting producers.

Do you see yourself as being famous?

No, not at all but I’ll just see what happens

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