BY MURAT MOLDOBAEV (CHEM/I)
Name: Emmi Vyyrylainen
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Home university: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
Department at Bilkent: Hotel and Tourism Management / II
Playing football for: 10 years
Playing position: Striker
Favorite club: FC Barcelona
Favorite players: David Villa, Lionel Messi
Do you play on your home university’s team?
No, I don’t play on the team because our university doesn’t have one. Actually, no university in Finland has a sports team. Sports at universities are played only at the intramural level and for recreational purposes. However, I play football competitively in Finland’s women’s third division.
How did you start playing football?
I always loved sports. During school breaks, I used to play football with boys, and the games used to get quite intense. My mom suggested to me that I should join a girls’ football team.
Is it normal for girls to play football in Finland?
Yes, it’s really normal. Like twenty years ago, girls would play with boys. Nowadays, there are separate girls’ teams. We also have a women’s professional football league. I would say nearly 10 percent of girls my age in Finland play football.
Maybe you have noticed that in Turkey, it’s not normal for women to play football?
Yes, I’ve noticed that. When I got my acceptance letter from Bilkent, the first thing I looked up on the Internet was whether there was a women’s football team, and I was really disappointed that there wasn’t.
What kind of comments do you get from other people in reaction to your playing football?
Many people here know me as “the girl who plays football.” “You? Really?” is a typical reaction I get when I tell people [at Bilkent] that I play football.
Did you know that Bilkent is forming a women’s football team?
Yes.
Are you interested in joining it?
I am, but I’m only staying here for one semester, so I’ll have to see. I hope that at the very least I get to meet the girls before I leave.
How has your experience of Turkey been so far?
I’ve liked it a lot. I’ve enjoyed my time here, and I think Ankara is a really amazing city.
Anything else you would like to add?
I would like to encourage girls to play football. Maybe they’re shy about playing football with guys because of not having much experience, but nevertheless, girls should definitely try football.