Maguire looks forward to fruitful professional career

Former Croesus Ladies player Kathrine ‘Kat’ Maguire said she was so excited with her move to Aris Limassol FC in Limassol, Cyprus.

“You can’t keep a good player down, someone will snap them up right in front of your eyes. Joining Aris is the start of my professional career despite that I have not been capped at all by Banyana Banyana, but this side noticed the talents I possess and decided to make use of it,” Maguire told Alex News in an interview just before her departure.

She said she could now build her professional soccer career and also start earning an income from something ‘I am passionate about and truly love’.

“This is just the beginning for my football plans and hope and look forward to one day playing in the Uefa Champions League and for the English national team.

“I feel Banyana has incurred a big loss for not selecting me. However, I am not upset about being overlooked because Banyana is not to be taken seriously as I feel most of the players who are there are not chosen out of merit,” claimed Maguire.

“You have to know someone in those high echelons of the team and organisation [Safa] for you to be selected. This is why a foreign coach wants to acquire my services because his decision is based on my ability and talent and not being connected to the right people somewhere,” added Maguire who started playing soccer at the tender age of seven.

Kat started her football career at Old Parks and met up with her former coach at Croesus Ladies, Barnes Qina. “I was subsequently invited by one of the Croesus players to join the team at age 12 and I have been with them ever since until my mother [Maria Athanassouli] invested in the team,” said Maguire who turns 25 in October but believes she still has 10 or so years to go in her career.

Having been a pillar of strength for the Greek Queens for many years, Kat said it pained her to have to leave but that’s the way of life sometimes. “I have been with Croesus for 12 years now and consider the team my family. I have grown up with these girls and it’s difficult to leave them as they have taught me so much. I will miss the team but Croesus will always have a special place in my heart.

“I’m leaving my family and life behind which is so upsetting but at the same time I am looking at the bright side of things and starting a new chapter in my life which is exciting. I will dearly miss my family, friends and my team for life,” said Kat who is a fan of Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool whom she described as an amazing player.