Lara Shenk was never afraid to grow the roots to carry forward a new challenge in a foreign land. So perhaps it is not surprising that 25 -year -old German took a jump of faith earlier this year, signed to play in the world’s newest female professional football league, Northern Super League (NSL).
Crossing the pond in April, Shenk has established himself in the first 11 of the six founding clubs of NSL, the initial 11 of the Montreal Roja.
For the only German player in Canada’s Potlite, who presents himself as a “two-foot and aggressive defender”, this step is another milestone in his already notable career.
“Creating history is always a unique experience,” Sank told DW. “It feels very proud to be the first German player in the league here and to be a part of the first season. With the launch of a new league in Canada, we are eventually installing a milestone for North America, promoting women’s football beyond USA and Mexico.”
For Shenk, who recently played for Spanish Second Second-Division Club CD Sporting Club de Huleva, North America, which is family area, left Germany to attend Harvard University in 2018, where she played for Harvard Krimson women’s team.
“Next, I (Germany Forward) saw a role model in Laura FreeAng, who went to college in USA as a young national team player in USA. I followed.” “I will take 100% of the same decision again today.”
First supporter contract in Belgium
During his time in Harvard, Shakek, who represented Germany at the youth level, earned not only a degree, but therefore co-with a section of “athlete collaborative”-with a group that advocates a group that involves the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ athletes in college games.
After completing its degree, in December 2022, Wolfsburg’s youth program product signed its first professional contract with the Women’s Section of Belgium Club FC Bruges. A year later, she moved to RSC Anderlech, with whom she won the Belgium Super League.
European League “Canada can learn”
Now in Canada, Shenk sees NSL as a very good mixture of “European and football specific North American athletic style.”
However, professional structures, which allow the players to focus perfectly on their performance on the pitch, are particularly important and see Sank NSL as a role model in this regard.
“I believe that the small European League, in particular, can learn a lot from our league,” Sank said.
“The interest of officers, investors and fans is just there. I don’t have the same experience in Europe. If you want to further develop women’s football in Europe, standard contracts, minimal wills and professional conditions should be in place in the league.”
Commercial outline
This is exactly what is NSL, who describes itself as a “a revolution” proposal on its website, as it wishes to create a league that “can believe in the next generation.”
The driving force behind the installation of NSL is former Pr Daina Matheson, who was part of the Canadian teams winning bronze medal in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. So she spent eight sessions as a player at the National Women’s Football League (NWSL) in the United States.
Matheson describes the opportunity to start a professional league as a “gift” from scratch – and took the opportunity to ensure that the restriction on extended maternity leaves such as commission and transfer of players is written in standard NSL players contracts. The Search Commission appealed to a player like Sank to the League.
Solid plan for a long -term future
“In the Canadian League, we know that an injury or pregnancy does not have an instant uncertainty and a constitutional problem,” Sank said.
“Diana Matheson and the company have done a great job, and I am emblered by Canadian officials and Canadian national team, who have made this league concretely and planned for a long -term future.”
However, for its share, Schenk focuses on a more immediate future. With the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs, the roses, currently in the second place in the table, is a good bet to make it in Postsen. Even if the roses do not make the finals in the BMO field of Toronto on 15 November, Shenk already feels like a winner.
“For me personally, it is just a dream to help and help to shape and shape the development of women’s football worldwide.”
This article was the original published in German.