Originals

Janine Beckie 15/03/2023 Janine Beckie 15/03/2023

New Standard: Janine Beckie

Portland Thorns forward Janine Beckie looks ahead to the 2023 NWSL season and the Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia & New Zealand after a trophy winning debut season for her new club.

Fresh off her SheBelieves Cup performances, Portland Thorns & Canadian Women’s National Team forward, Janine Beckie, speaks to onetwo ahead of the 2023 NWSL season and FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Olympic Games

Janine Beckie is one of the poster faces of the Canada Women’s National Team known as fierce competitors on the international stage. After winning gold in the 2021 Olympics, she left Manchester City Women’s team and signed for arguably the most prominent team in the NWSL, the Portland Thorns.

"Its a Women’s World Cup year, and this has the potential to be the biggest one in history. I’m really looking forward to this year’s NWSL season for a couple of reasons. Its a Women’s World Cup year so all eyes are on women’s football like never before. This has the potential to be the biggest Women’s World Cup in history".

World Cup years tend to lead to a more precautious approach from players within club football. Potentially missing out on the most important event of their career due to injury is a genuine possibility. However, Janine has full belief that this Portland Thorns team has the drive to compete for yet another NWSL title.

The standard has been set pretty high, with us winning a championship the first year I’ve been in the squad. We have most of our squad returning so the quality will be the same, if not higher.

The NWSL has steadily increased in popularity in recent years, breaking viewership records in 2022 with a whopping 915,000 viewers tuning in for the final between the Portland and Kansas City Current. The Thorns were victorious against a talented Kansas City squad that had just recently drawn against them.

"The NWSL is one of, if not the most competitive league in the world".

Bouquet

With the NWSL growing rapidly and as the Women’s World Cup draws near. Many doors are opening for women’s players off the pitch, with many major companies such as EA Sports, Adobe, and more sponsoring the league and providing marketing opportunities to players.

Its definitely a year for football fans to tune in to the women’s game. There’s more excitement, more advertisement, and more broadcasts.

"This is going to be an incredible year for the league. There’s so much talent on every roster this year. The NWSL is one of, if not the most competitive league in the world.

There are more Europeans, more international players that are pushing the league and adding different styles of play to the table. You rarely see teams being blown out in matches. The competitiveness and the fact that any team can compete on any day is what attracts me to the league. It pushes me to become a better player.

There’s more excitement, advertisement, and broadcasting. This year is definitely a year to tune in the women’s game".

Getting Popular

The NWSL is now in EA Sports FIFA 23, which is a major showcase for the women’s game. Previously, there were only national teams available to use when it came to the women’s portion of the game. Now, the entire NWSL is available to be used in-game.

There are so many talented players that do not get called up to their national teams who can now be recognized in the video game. It’s amazing to see all players get the recognition they deserve.

“Another thing to look out for this season is the Portland Thorns away kit for the 2023 season. With its intricate designs dedicated to the portrayal of the ‘Rose City’, it is a kit that will definitely be catching the eyes of viewers this year.
This kit represents us and our city. Unique, wild, and artistic. Its a great representation of the Rose City and the identity of our club”.

“With an emphasis on the word ‘us’, its safe to say that Janine feels right at home. The NWSL season kicks off on March 25, 2023 with the Portland Thorns slated to kick off their season on March 26 at Providence Park against Orlando Pride”.

Raheem Taylor-Parkes 07/03/2023 Raheem Taylor-Parkes 07/03/2023

The Transition: Kyle Guy

We travelled to Badalona to talk to Kyle, one of the most prominent NCAA basketball players in the modern era.

From the NBA to Europe. onetwo goes in-depth with Kyle Guy about life in Barcelona, football culture, fashion, and more.

Overseas

Kyle Guy – one of the most prominent NCAA basketball players in the modern era.

After winning the 2019 NCAA tournament with the University of Virginia in dramatic fashion, he was drafted in the second round as the 55th pick overall in the 2019 NBA draft. He was initially drafted by the New York Knicks but was immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Following several years bouncing around the G League and a stint with the Miami Heat, we are now watching Kyle ply his trade with Joventut Badalona, a team that plays in the Liga ACB and Eurocup. They are one of the two teams to have never been relegated from Spain's highest tier of basketball.

onetwo traveled to Badalona, a city on the outskirts of Barcelona and known for its massive basketball culture, to watch Kyle in action against Ucam Murcia. Jovetut are currently in sixth place in the table with a 14-7 record. Similarly to La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently leading the way in the division.

“A massive transition from NBA compared to European basketball".

The transition from the NBA to European basketball has been good but a bit weird. You saw it today with the different rules such as being able to hit it off the rim and no defensive three seconds. The league is also very physical and organized, however not as fast compared to the NBA.

Now that we are halfway through the season, I am finally getting into my groove and understanding how to be more efficient on the court.

Kyle definitely showed his adaptation to the European game today, leading his team in scoring with 22 points and going 8-10 in field goal attempts as well as shooting 5-6 from the three point line.

He also showed flashes of his playmaking, chipping in two assists that should have been more. A performance akin to what his game is all about, creating and scoring opportunities.

Ballin’

“In the city of Badalona, basketball comes first”.

Kyle being a massive football fan himself is surrounded by the beautiful game on a daily basis. However, he was shocked at how much basketball is revered in the city of Badalona.

Badalona is probably the only city in Spain where basketball comes first. You saw the fans today, they packed the house. However, you go 5-10 minutes to Barcelona and the culture shifts to football.

I have been to about seven FC Barcelona games this year at Estadio Camp Nou and I absolutely love it. In the locker room, my teammates and I are always talking about football while in the NBA, it was mostly discussions about the NFL. It just shows that I am surrounded by football culture every day.

Challenging

“The time difference and being away from home is definitely the hardest”.“I always wanted to play in the NBA as long as I could, but Spain gave me the opportunity to play”.

The struggles of Americans playing abroad is rarely discussed. The culture shock of learning a new language, being in a completely new environment, and the distance between yourself and loved ones can be a tough task. There are numerous stories of American players being unable to handle the transition and returning back home before the season ends.

However, Kyle has taken the challenge in stride.

The time difference and being away from my siblings has to be the hardest. I have my son here, which is amazing, but he does not get to be with his cousins or grandparents while over here. There is a six hour time difference between here and Indiana, my home. My parents came out here for a week which was great, but that feeling gets overtaken by sadness when they leave.

Kyle is no stranger to Spanish culture. He visited the country for a trip abroad in 2016 with his title-winning University of Virginia team. That tour wasn’t the only thing that influenced him to play overseas.

I wanted to play in the NBA as long as I could. When I was not getting the chance to play as much as I wanted in the league, I had to make a decision that would create generational wealth for my family. Spain is the best domestic league in the world and my experience coming here before allowed me to acclimate more easily to the culture.

“Fashion gives players a creative outlet outside of basketball”.

Shifting away from basketball, Kyle has seen how much the game has been influenced by fashion culture. The NBA has been a staple in the streetwear community, giving maximum visibility to their athletes’ fashion and identity with tunnel pictures and collaborations with massive social media platforms that highlight this such as League Fits.

I definitely felt the fashion influence when I was in the NBA. The tunnel fit pics were a massive part of gameday culture. I didn’t necessarily have a style, sometimes I’d wear bright colors and other games I’d have a white tee with Alexander McQueens on.

I’d say the flyest guys I had as teammates in the NBA were Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton. They had some pretty dope styles. It's so important that these guys have the outlet to be creative in a space that is not just about basketball. It's so important to the game and something that I have been grateful to have been a part of during my time in the NBA.

Omir Fernandez 03/03/2023 Omir Fernandez 03/03/2023

Season Five: Omir Fernandez

Omir Fernandez may be young, but to the New York Red Bulls, he’s a seasoned vet. The starlet gives us an inside look into the opening match day of Major League Soccer.

New York Red Bulls midfielder Omir Fernandez recovered from injury just in time to start the 2023 MLS Season - his fifth in the league. The New York Red Bulls opened up the season facing conference rivals Orlando City down in Florida.

He writes his thoughts on the upcoming season and what goes into preparing for a season opener.

“This is season five now of being a pro with the Red Bulls, and I'm very excited. This is an especially important season because last year I had a bigger role on the team as a starter and coming off the bench, but more of a starter being involved in many of the team's success.

So this year, I just want to build off that and become a solidified starter.

We have a reputation of being a contender but we need to further push that. I want to have a very successful season with the team which means winning a trophy or more, and contributing to goals and assists”.

Matchday

Like any footballer, Omir has his own matchday routine that he adheres to in preparation for every match.

"You can consider me superstitious but only for game days. Typically, we have the game schedule which involves the basic stuff like eating two or three times before the game, a team walk, and maybe watching some film".

"But before the team’s film session or pre-match, I have to sleep. It’s a must or else I'm going to feel super tired and sluggish before the game. I know that's not exciting, but getting sleep for me is absolutely essential before a game.

Once it starts getting close to game time, I also have to drink some coffee, one or two cups before we head out to the stadium.

But physical preparation for a match doesn’t start the day of it, no, it starts days and weeks in advance and I think I do a good job at it. Being aware and knowing your body goes a long way. I know what I need to eat and how to recover to stay in top physical form.

These games come real fast and they're incredibly demanding. There is no room to slack off, not even a little bit.

When it comes to mental preparation religion plays a major role. I have to have my Bible present and read some passages before the match. It brings me peace and it helps me to relax knowing that I'm protected at all times".

@dianaalia_
Omir’s Tissot Gentleman’s Edition watch, Bible, and Adidas x Speedportal .1 boots for the match.

Warm Up

"I also look for inspiration watching highlight videos of ballers I admire. Some I watch often are Eden Hazard, Neymar is a big one for me, and Cristiano Ronaldo when he was at Manchester United.

 I thrive to be skillful and dangerous in the attack so watching these guys helps me create similar habits on the pitch.

The biggest thing is trying to zone out as many distractions as I can and focusing on things that will help me on the pitch.

Once, I'm in the stadium, warming up, seeing the fans and kicking the ball around. I just enter a different mode. My body just knows that it's time to play. It's just time to ball".

Good vibes

Empowered by his faith, footballers he aspires to be like, and a gold necklace that his mother gave to him that reminds him home, Omir is ready to step on the pitch and give it his all against Orlando City.

It was an imposing performance by the Red Bulls in many different facets but they failed to capitalize on it. Omir came in when NYRB were down 0-1 in the 89th minute, but in the end fell short but with several positives to take from the match.

Motivation

"It was an unfortunate result, we lost one zero away from home despite a great performance. Even then we all thought we could have given a lot more as we fully expected to get all three points that game. That’s just how the game is sometimes. you give the team a chance, in this case, a penalty kick, they make their chances count, and we come away with zero points.

I came in a tough situation, but I tried my hardest to help get that goal and create chances for the team. I thought I played ok under the circumstances but I’m just so happy to finally be back on the field after my injury.

I worked so hard to get back to full health in order to be able to play. It wasn’t much time but I’m always grateful to just get on the field. I never take it for granted so it felt really good.

But now we head back home for our second game which is against Nashville. Those first game jitters are gone, we’re now in season mode, and we're ready to play. I think we'll be even more ready for this game on Saturday against Nashville".

"We're gonna build on this performance for the rest of the season. Like I said I we think we played really well but we were just a little rusty in our finishing. Overall, the concepts and ideas were there which is matters long term.

We’re going to watch film and correct the mistakes that we made both on offense and defense in order to keep improving to THE top team in the East".

Chris Brown 01/03/2023 Chris Brown 01/03/2023

In Focus: Mati Fondato

We had the pleasure to sit down with Mati Fondato, a former Argentinian football player who shifted his focus to art.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Mati Fondato, a former Argentina football player who played for teams in six different countries, including his career start at Newells Old Boys. Today, Mati has shifted his focus to the world of art and is quickly making a name for himself as an emerging artist. In this interview, he shares his story and discusses his passion for football and art

Hey Mati thanks a lot for taking the time and speak to onetwo, how did you move into the world of art ?

I’ve always loved drawing since I’ve been a kid, and was always curious about trying painting one day, about 5 or 6 years ago I made a portrait of my friend DeAndre Yedlin, he posted it on his socials and since then I’ve been painting all the time, at the beginning it was mostly portraits and football related paintings but then with time, I expanded to different sports, big personalities, music, cars, pets, abstracts, lets say all kind of things.

What piece of art are you most proud of?

I have two pieces I’m really proud of, more because of the feeling and what happened thanks to them, I’m a football man, I’m originally from Argentina so both represent my biggest emotional achievements: one is a portrait of Diego Maradona, requested by an English fan that Diego actually commented on himself on my Instagram post, and the other one was a portrait of Lionel Messi that gave me the chance to meet him personally through a friend in common. I’ve linked with, in my opinion, the two greatest of all time, both from my country, so that’s kind of priceless in all senses.

That’s amazing, I wish I had the chance to meet Lionel in person. What are the other famous clients you worked for?

I have painted for many players such as Raheem Sterling, Miguel Almiron, Ngolo Kante, Leon Bailey, Mauricio Pochettino, Zack Steffen, Jermain Defoe, Martin Dubravka, Fabricio Coloccini, DeAndre Yedlin, Tim Weah, Kenedy, Mo Diame, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ayoze Perez, Eric Lamela, Willy Caballero, Allan St Maximin, and some more from LaLiga, Serie A, the Argentinian League and MLS.

That’s an impressive number of VIPs you have worked for, which means your work speak for itself. Obviously you had a football career before to move into art, do you miss playing the game sometimes ?

To be completely honest If I play a match even with friends, it brings me of course that great feeling, I would say that’s probably the moment I miss it the most, but not in a bad way. In general I try to make myself busy with new stuff and since I started painting I have found a similar feeling considering it’s another big passion. But I guess if you ask this to any footballer he would feel the same.

You played in a number of countries, have you taken on board those cultures into your new found career?

Of course I’ve been privileged enough to live in 6 different countries with quite different cultures, and that is always awakening no matter what you do in life, as it gives you completely different perspectives, traditions and philosophies that myself, personally, try to understand and analyse the best of all of them to feed and try at some point to improve mine. It used to happen in football and now it also happens with art.

Before we let you go, what exciting projects do you have coming up?

The idea is to keep learning, keep improving and keep discovering myself deeper as an artist. At the moment I’m working on two collections, an abstract one and classic cars, both for exhibitions and I’m always working and planning to open my own gallery where people can come and enjoy personally most of my work.

We thank Mati for his time and we can’t wait for what’s coming his way. We loved to experiencing his incredible energy and the crossover between football and art.

Aylin Yaren 19/02/2023 Aylin Yaren 19/02/2023

Aylin Diaries: The Battle of Berlin

Aylin Yaren, footballer for Viktoria Berlin, wrote down her thoughts in the build up to the colossal top of table clash against bitter rivals Union Berlin.

Our Need

It's an incredibly important game because we're top of the table and Union is trailing right behind us in second. Unfortunately, we lost the opening game of the first half of the season against them, even though I thought we were the better side.

We have a score to settle. So, how do I prepare for tomorrow's game so that I can be at my very best?  The very first thing is making sure I get enough sleep.

So I'll definitely go to sleep early. I'll get up at seven and start the day by taking my usual vitamins. Followed by a light breakfast such as porridge, nothing special, pretty standard stuff but nutritious.

The Prematch

I follow it up with a 20 minute walk around the block playing some motivational music to begin mentally preparing. Incorporating breathing exercises is also something I’ve found to be beneficial to help control my emotions before a match with as much weight as this.

Paying attention to my breathing helps me control my nerves, well, to a degree. My brother was the one who recommended me focus on breathing to prepare for a match.

I'll do it once again tomorrow throughout the morning and as we get closer to kick off. I'll go into tomorrow's game as if it were my last because it's an absolutely critical match. Potentially the most decisive of the second round. That's why we will approach tomorrow’s match as if it were a final.

I feel great, I feel fit, and I'm so looking forward to the game tomorrow. Union was the only team we lost to all season. We have to make up for that. We know we are so much better than how our first match up ended.

I’m also just thrilled that the routine of being in season is back. This Rückrunde (second half of the season) should be the most exciting of my career and we’ll see what happens in the end.

My Goal

I'm focused on my goals, personal and team ones. Which are to be as successful as possible with the team and to deliver 100% every time I step on the pitch to the point where I know I couldn’t have given more this season.

Another personal goal of mine is to directly contribute to a goal or two to earn all three points and extend the point gap at the top for my team. Achieving my goals and influencing the trajectory of the season all begins tomorrow.

These are go-to boots for matches. The green ones are for when the weather is bad and the whites are for when the weather is beautiful. For this game, I’m going to go for the adidas Speed Portal, but I like to have both brands at my disposal to select from depending on the match.

Pure Relief

The derby ended up being a 4-3 thriller with Aylin’s Viktoria Berlin triumphing over their rivals. Aylin shared her post match thoughts on her biggest win of the season.

The three points were critical to increase the distance between us and Union. If we win our game in hand we’ll further increase that gap to ten points which will give us some breathing room. Winning this game alleviates some of the pressure because we have some pretty relaxed games coming up that we feel good about.

But for now we celebrated this victory for so long in locker room right after. It was just an incredible feeling. We had lost the first leg but bounced back and beat them this time around. We even keep on celebrating at one player's home. On top of that I also assisted two goals. What a beautiful day.