Ireland’s Stephanie Roche has described the reaction to her nomination for FIFA’s Puskas award for best goal of the year as “incredible.”
She is still reeling from the news yesterday that she is on the shortlist for the award, sharing the limelight with household names such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robin van Persie and Diego Costa.
Stephanie scored the nominated wonder goal for Peamount United in October 2013 and it
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The clip has attracted more than 2.5m views since then and unbeknownst to the player, also attracted the attention of FIFA.
Stephanie only found out about the nomination at the same time as everyone else yesterday, when FIFA tweeted the nominees for the award.
#Puskas Award 2014 (2/2)@StephanieRoche9@jamesdrodriguez@camilosanvezzo
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) November 12, 2014
Hisato Sato@Persie_Official pic.twitter.com/wJldyh8Rve
Speaking to breakingnews.ie, Stephanie said it had been a crazy 24 hours since the news broke.
“I’ve been doing interviews all day,” she said. “Twitter and Facebook have been hopping. So many people are supporting me and voting for me and I’m trying to make sure I say thanks to everyone.”
Stephanie is aware of the huge interest in her as a female nominee.
“I think it’s only natural that there is a bit of extra attention because it’s unusual for a woman’s goal to get this much recognition,” she said.
“I understand it and I really appreciate it, but I would like to be seen primarily as a sportsperson and for the goal to get votes because it’s a good goal.”
The striker has been playing professionally with French side ASPTT Albi since moving there in July and was speaking today in between morning and evening training sessions.
She was first offered a move to France three years ago after attracting attention while playing in the Champions League with Peamount United. She turned down that offer, but another club came calling this year and she decided to give it a go.
“They were already aware of me because of the Champions League,” Roche said. “But I think the goal helped bring attention again.”
Now she is hoping support from the public can get her from the shortlist to the final three.
“It’s been amazing to be nominated, but it would be incredible to make the final three and get to go to the ceremony,” she said.
Asked if she had ever met any of her fellow nominees she joked: “I saw (previous winner) Cristiano Ronaldo once in an airport in Finland. That’s as close as I’ve been, so it would be amazing to get to attend the awards.”
"I'm just delighted with the nomination and really hope that people get behind me and vote for me. I'm so grateful for all the support."
The public have until December 1 to vote online and the final three will then be announced. There will be another public vote before the final winner of the Puskas Award is announced as part of FIFA’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in January 2015.
There has already been a huge wave of support for the Dublin native.
@StephanieRoche9 you've got my vote for World Goal of The Year , super touch superb strike :-) http://t.co/8AQHdjkGEP
— Hector 🇮🇪 (@hectorirl) November 12, 2014
Amazing achievement! @StephanieRoche9's goal has been shortisted for @FIFAcom best goals of 2014!Click to VOTE! http://t.co/9TNtRDapeH
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 12, 2014
@GOALIreland Patron @StephanieRoche9 needs your vote #puskas14 http://t.co/d1OYPWlLtW pic.twitter.com/68Bdm9gsYv
— Aidan Stacey (@aidstace) November 13, 2014
If you do 1 thing today, vote for @StephanieRoche9 who is up against Zlatan & company for FIFA Goal of the Year -> http://t.co/LgMJMFo4ZM
— Mairead Ronan (@maireadronan) November 13, 2014
Stephanie also wanted to give particular acknowledgement to her manager at Peamount United, Eileen Gleeson.
It was Gleeson who put the clip on YouTube and she is still cheering on her former player.
Congrats to @StephanieRoche9 nominated for FIFA GOAL OF THE YEAR, Amazing achievement, Get Voting everyone
— Eileen Gleeson (@GleesonEileen) November 12, 2014
We're all rooting for you Stephanie, let's hope you bring the award home.
You can cast your vote here and voting is open until December 1.