On only her second appearance for West Ham United women’s team, Selin Cemal looked right at home at the heart of the Hammers defence against Southampton on Wednesday night.
She was part of a resolute backline that kept a clean sheet in our 5-0 home success in the Subway Women’s League Cup, helping us solidify our place at the top of Group C.
Only 18 years old, Cemal, who made her debut in the for the Club earlier in the competition against Charlton Athletic, played with the confidence of someone way beyond her years - always demanding the ball, surging forward at every opportunity and reading the game equally as well out of possession.
There were plenty of reasons for our No43 to smile in east London, as she watched Viviane Asseyi, Shekiera Martinez and Ffion Morgan clinically see off the Saints with some outrageous and exquisite finishing.
“It was really fun to be with the girls, getting another win,” said Cemal. “As a team, it was a great performance overall.
“I’m just grateful for every opportunity and trying to take each opportunity as it comes. I’m grateful for the team, all the girls have been supportive, and the staff as well.
“Every goal today was outstanding. As a team, everyone worked really hard and put a good performance out on the pitch. When we’re together, it shows the performance we can produce.”
Since joining the Club’s Professional Game Academy (PGA) in the summer, Cemal has relished the opportunity to train with Rehanne Skinner's first team, and has been taken under the wing of the experienced heads in the side.
Whether that's learning from fellow centre-back Shelina Zadorsky, or laughing alongside Viviane Asseyi, who watched Cemal give her post-match interview, she has certainly slotted into the team well.
“The girls have really helped with my confidence," she said.
"It’s really nice to get out there, be on the pitch and play. They’ve all been supportive. {They had a talk with me} before the game, after the game, they’re all saying they’re proud of me. It’s really nice. I get advice from them in training as well"
A third successive fixture at home awaits the Irons on Sunday, with the visit of Everton to come in the Barclays Women’s Super League. And Skinner’s side head into the game full of confidence after we followed up our first league point of the campaign with a convincing midweek victory.
Cemal continued: “We can take something from every game, learn something, it’s a new game every time. We can build on the confidence from this game going into Everton and get the three points.”
