by Hibernians recruited Canadian goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj during the summer, who was immediately put to the test against Valletta in the club’s opening fixture in the Assikura Women’s League. She made a solid start to her life with the Paolites by keeping a clean sheet. Unfortunately, following her debut with Hibernians, the goalkeeper suffered an injury and has been sidelined since.
The Sporting Fan caught up with Jivraj to discuss her beginnings in football, life in Malta and to get an insight into when we can expect to see her back on the field.
Eleanor Saliba (ES): When did you first start playing football and was there someone who particularly inspired you?
Zeeyana Jivraj (ZJ): I was around five years old. My dad played growing up, so he was my coach into my late childhood. I have five siblings, and four of us kept playing. It was kind of like a thing in the family. He got us into it and then a lot of my friends were playing as well. When I got to the age of around eight is when I got more serious with football, and that’s when I started playing in a very organized setting.
ES: Would you say that goalkeeping was your first-choice position or was this something that you were coached into?
ZJ: My dad was also a goalkeeper, but I started as a centre-back when I was young. However, they used to rotate people to play goalkeeper and I did really well so I kept playing as a goalkeeper. Since my dad was also a goalkeeper it was not so weird for me to play and he also trained me growing up.
ES: What would you say are your strengths as a goalkeeper?
ZJ: As I’ve grown I think a lot of coaches notice my distribution and communication. I know that a lot of people who go into a new setting tend to hold off on communication but I feel like in my position at the back I see the whole pitch. So, I use that to my advantage because if I can communicate and tell the people in front of me what to do, then I make my job easier because I won’t have to do it if I get them to do it first!
ES: The Canadian women’s team landed a gold medal in the Olympics in 2020. Would you say that you saw an effect of this back home in relation to the sport?
ZJ: I would say it’s tough in Canada because a lot of us go overseas or to the US, because for the women we do not have a professional league yet in Canada. So that limits our ability to see success and development. However, I know that next year they’re looking to bring a professional league to Canada which would be a huge step for us because we’re practically competing with the US and overseas to keep our players within Canada. With time it’s obvious that the women’s game is getting bigger and it’s getting introduced to Canada as well. I hope for our sake we implement it well. I think it’s a case of slowly but surely.
ES: How do you like living in Malta so far?
ZJ: It’s been really pretty so far. Earlier on we were staying in Birzebbuga, right on the beach which was gorgeous. Because of my injury I haven’t been able to get out much but I hope that once I get back I’ll be able to go explore more, see Blue Lagoon and Gozo. I’ve seen pictures and I know seeing them online is not enough.
ES: Hibernians is the club which has the highest number of league titles in the women’s game at twelve. It is a tally that Birkirkara are bidding to equal this year. Do you feel that history when carrying out your training and taking to the pitch with the team?
ZJ: That was one of the things that I saw when I came in here and I came in with the mentality that this is going to be the team to beat. Honestly with how things have been going I believe that we have the characters and the ability to do it. It’s just a matter of being consistent throughout the league, finishing our chances and being clinical. Winning the title is definitely something I think about, it’s something that Hibernians hold high for sure. They stopped for three years, but I’m hoping that with some of the new players we can go out and claim a new title.
ES: You made your debut against Valletta in a 3-0 win where you made some spectacular saves. How was that experience for you on the pitch?
ZJ: It was good. I was super nervous coming into it because I had just gotten here that week. I did not have that much time to train with the girls, maybe just three or four sessions. So, I was nervous because I did not know some of the characteristic of players and of course training is very different than playing games. However, when we started playing the game I was pleasantly surprised with the level that we brought. Unfortunately, I got injured then, but I’m very excited to come back because I believe we’ve gotten used to things and so I think it will be smooth sailing once I get back.
ES: Since then, you have been sidelined with injury, but I have seen you supporting the team from the stands. Perhaps not the dream start you hoped for, but how is the recovery going and how are you dealing with all this?
ZJ: Yeah, not the dream start but things are going well. I will undergo surgery and then recovery is looking like three to four weeks, so maybe I’ll be back just in time for Birkirkara. I perhaps could have come back without the operation but it would not be good long term. So, I think it’s better to take the time now and then bring my all to the team once I come back, so I can contribute in the best way.
ES: What would you say your ambitions are with the club for this year?
ZJ: I want to win first with the team, there’s no second or third for me. As an individual player I’m looking to be in the best eleven. So it’s a matter of performing once I get to finally get back out there.
Quick Fire Questions:
- Save a penalty or win a 1v1 in open play? – Save a penalty
- Play in rainy or dry weather? – Dry
- Ice-cream or chocolate? – Ice-Cream
- Score an own goal or concede a penalty? – Concede A Penalty
- Favourite football player? – Erling Haaland, Lauren James
- Favourite season of the year? – Summer
- Getting ready for a match: music or no music? – Music
- More strength or more speed? – More Speed
- If you were not a goalkeeper, what would you be? – Striker
- Dream competition to play in? – World Cup
The Sporting Fan thanks Zeeyana Jivraj for her time to be able bring you this feature and look forward to seeing her make a return to the pitch soon. Hibernians FC will continue their league commitments next Friday 13th October against Birkirkara FC at 18:00 (Centenary Stadium).
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