Scroll down for the English version by Isaac Lockett.

Kogu jÀrgnev intervjuu on lÀbi viidud Kalevi klubi Leedsis elava inglasest vabatahtliku Isaac Lockett poolt Inglise keeles, mis on tÔlgitud Eesti keelde. Originaalintervjuu inglise keeles on kÔige lÔpus.

2023 naiste meistriliiga hooaja eel tegime juttu naiskonna kapteni Maria Oravaga, et uurida mÔtteid eelmisest ning eesseisvast hooajast.

Möödunud hooajal saavutas Kalevi naiskond kaheksa vÔistkonna liigas kolmanda koha, seelÀbi saavutades iseendale seatud minimaalse eesmÀrgi. Uuele hooajal minnakse vastu aga uue treenerite tiimi ning pÔnevate uute mÀngijatega, et eelmise hooaja tabelikohta veelgi parandada.

Eelmisele hooajal tagasi vaadates on naiskonna kapten Maria Orav aus: “Hooaeg oli vĂ€ga raske. Fakt, et lĂ”petasime medaliga, oli vĂ€ikene lohutus aga ausalt öeldes meil oli vahepeal tĂ”siseid probleeme ning vĂ”ib öelda, et lĂ”puks ei saanudki me end tĂ”siselt kĂ€ima. Mentaalselt ei olnud me parimas vormis. Aga positiivne oli ikka lĂ”puks asjaolu, et olenemata probleemidest, saime hooaja lĂ”petada medaliga.”

Uuele hooajale vastu minnes uue peatreeneri KĂ€tlin Heinaga ning uue treenerite tiimiga, on Maria Orav aga optimistlik.

KĂ€tlin Hein, kes on mĂ€ngijana ja treenerina Kalevi klubis olnud enam kui kĂŒmme aastat, asus naiskonna ette juba möödunud aasta numbri sees ning on hakanud juurutama juba oma mĂ€ngufilosoofiat. “Kogu naiskond on uue treeneri mĂ€ngustiili omaks vĂ”tnud. Saame kĂ”ik selgelt aru, et uue stiiliga harjumine vĂ”ib vĂ”tta natukene aega ja me ei vĂ”i tulemust kohe nĂ€ha, aga oleme selleks valmis. Sellegipoolest tahame mĂ€ngida sel hooajal medalitele,” sĂ”nas Orav uue peatreeneri mĂ”just vĂ”istkonnale.

Hein ei ole ainuke uus nĂ€gu koosseisus – Kalevi naiskonnaga liitub Eesti koondislane Anett Vilipuu. Neile, kes pole Vilipuud varem mĂ€ngimas nĂ€inud, kirjeldas Orav teda kui “kompromissitut vĂ”itlejat, kellel on suurepĂ€rane tehnika, et meie keskvĂ€ljale kĂ€ik juurde anda”.

Naiskonna kohta lĂ”petuseks ĂŒtles Orav sihikindlalt, et “tiim on keskendunud ja nĂ€ljane ennast tĂ”estama.” Meie treeningprotsess ja taktikaline arusaam on astunud suure sammu edasi, kuid mĂ”istame, et tööd on veel vaja teha. Usaldame protsessi ja oleme kindlad, et taustajĂ”udude ja meie poolt sel aastal tehtud lisatöö tasub end Ă€ra.

Enne intervjuu lĂ”petamist uurisime Oravalt tema enda eesmĂ€rke hooaja eel ja tema kaptenirollist. Üheks oluliseks muudatuseks on liikumine keskrĂŒndaja positsioonilt vasakÀÀre poole, kes saab vajadusel ÀÀrekaitsja positiooni tĂ€ita. Marial pole kogu karjÀÀri jooksul positsioonide liikumine vÔÔras, sest oma karjÀÀri alustas ta keskkaitsjana. ÜkskĂ”ik, kus ta mĂ€ngib, on Orav otsustanud naiskonna heaks panustada ja kĂ”vasti tööd teha. Kuid klubi kaptenina on Oraval keskne roll ka vĂ€ljaspool vĂ€ljakut. Nimelt kaptenina mĂ”istab Maria, et Ă”ige keskkonna loomiseks on vaja grupitööd. Eesti koondislane tĂ€htsustab usaldust, avatust, vastutulelikkust ja ausust.

Naiskonna koosseis 2023 hooajaks on jĂ€rgmine: Anastasija Fjodorova, Vanessa Grutop, Darja Ionina, Marian Jaarman, Roberta JĂŒrna, Anett Kadastu, Hanna Karoliina Kalle, Marie Heleen Lisette Kikkas, Loore Lehtmets, Johanna Marie Link, Maria Orav, Sandra Paulberg, Kaili Pertel, Birgit Rammo, Birjo Rasmussen, Ketlin Saar, Sandra-Henrica Saul, Ćœanna Smirnova, Mirell Soasepp, Kadri-Ann ValgevĂ€li, Anett Vilipuu.

Naiskonna peatreeneriks on KÀtlin Hein, abitreeneriks Marek KaljumÀe ning vÀravavahtide treeneriks Andree Marjamaa.

Naiskonna hooaja esimene mÀng toimub 2. aprillil, kui Viimsi staadionil minnakse vastamisi Viimsi MRJK naiskonnaga. Kohtumine saab avavile kell 12:30.

Previewing the Naiste Meistriliiga with Maria Orav

With the Estonian Women’s Premier League, known as the Naiste Meistriliiga in Estonia, starting at the end of the month, we sat down with captain Maria Orav to get her thoughts on last season and the new one.

Last season, Kalev’s women’s team finished third in the eight-team league achieving the team’s ‘minimum goal’. Going into the new season, with a new manager at the helm and a new exciting signing to further develop the squad, Kalev is ready to take the next step and challenge for the title during 2023.

When reflecting on the season, Orav was honest in her assessment. ‘Last season was really tough! The fact that we finished with a medal [in the cup] helped pave over some cracks, but – truth be told – we really struggled across the board. We never really got going; mentally, we were not in the best shape. On the positive side, I would say it is somewhat encouraging that we managed to finish with some silverware even when underperforming’. But she is more optimistic going into the new season, with new manager KĂ€tlin Hein bringing her style to the club.

Hein, who previously played for Kalev for over a decade and now has evolved into a coach and manager, has positively impacted the side. One of the first things Hein did after her appointment was to deconstruct the team’s way of playing and introduce how she wants the team to play. From what Orav said during the interview, it is clear that the team have bought into the manager’s plans, ‘We all realise that it is a long process, we have a lot of things to improve, and we might not see immediate results. However, naturally, we want to be in contention for medals.’

Hein is not the only new face in the squad, with Estonian national team player Anett Vilipuu joining Kalev and has settled into the side quickly. For those who have not seen Vilipuu play before, Orav described her as ’a no-nonsense fighter with sublime technique to anchor our midfield’. When rounding off about the team, Orav determinedly said that ‘The team is focused and hungry to improve. Our training process and tactical understanding have taken a major step forward, but we realise work still needs to be done. We trust the process and are confident that the extra work the staff and we have put in this year will pay off.’

Before finishing the interview, we asked Orav about her own goals ahead of the season and her approach to captaincy. One significant change has been moving from a central attacking position to a left winger who can fill in at fullback if required. Throughout her career, Orav is no stranger to moving positions, having started as a centre-back before moving up the field. No matter where she plays, Orav is determined to contribute and work hard for the team. But as club captain, Orav also has a pivotal role off the field. When asked about her approach to captaincy, Orav understands it takes ’a group effort to create the right environment’. When talking about her processes, the Estonian international places importance ‘on trust and being open, approachable and honest’. We are proud to have Orav as our captain and can’t wait to see the women’s team in action.