Ahen Shekiera Martinez kicked the ball into the goal with the naturalness and callousness of her own, she was almost crushed by her teammates during the cheering scenes at the time. A goal shortly before the end to 3: 3 against the old Frankfurt Bundesliga rivals Turbine Potsdam. Manager Siegfried Dietrich said at the time: “A great career has started.”
That was two and a half years ago. A highly gifted 17-year-old seemed to be on the way to fulfill the hopes her talent promised. But neither the 18-year-old nor the 19-year-old Shekiera Martinez was able to continue on the apparently mapped out path. Injuries, form crises, and their lifestyle should not always have been adequate for the demands of professional sport.
In short: when she wasn’t suffering from muscular problems, her breath was only enough for short assignments at FFC and Eintracht. In which she could only hint at her pronounced speed and explosiveness, her agility and her gate instinct. The 20-year-old Shekiera Martinez, however, appears different, strengthened and matured. In short: how transformed. As if she had clicked.
Strengthened and matured
Because she has been in the SGE’s starting line-up since the start of the season, scores, scores and often plays 90 minutes. “I trained hard in all areas and also changed my diet,” says the Fulda native. And further: “Last year I learned to interpret my body’s signals in such a way that I can assess when it makes sense to adjust the intensity a little. As a result, I now have more confidence in myself and my services. “
If Dietrich (and other experts) forecast the great striker career one day, the roots will be in the summer of 2021. “For the first time, Sheki was able to pull through a pre-season without any problems. Your state of fitness has improved tremendously. When she is doing better physically, she is also mentally fresher, ”says Eintracht head coach Niko Arnautis. The 41-year-old has known Shekiera Martinez since she was 14 years old. As a teacher in the Carl-von-Weinberg-Schule, the Frankfurt elite school of sports, and as a football coach.
Three assists
Last weekend Shekiera Martinez made three assists in the cup at the second division club 1. FC Nürnberg. In the Bundesliga, she has already scored four goals after three match days. “It is a great pleasure for them and for us,” says their sponsor Arnautis.
The coach’s system change has made it possible for the East Hessin to flourish. The Eintracht women have been playing with a so-called diamond in midfield since the beginning of the season, which enables the line-up of three offensive players. Shekiera Martinez is no longer just a substitute for the seeded national players Laura Freilang and Lara Prasnikar, but plays with them. “The three of us help each other a lot to put ourselves in the limelight,” says the long-time junior selection player. But she also benefits from the two partners who are internationally experienced at the highest level.
Now after the flawless start of the season in the league and cup, the first real position assessment is waiting for the Eintracht women. This Saturday (4 p.m.) they will meet TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim, which has secured a place in the Champions League as third place in the previous season. The Frankfurt women want to compete for that rank this season. A powerful signal on its own behalf to the competition would be just right. Arnautis will probably not change the line-up of his attack trio – newcomer Nicole Anyomi is still not ready for action.
And Shekiera Martinez’s goal instinct is so natural for her that she doesn’t make a fuss about it. “I started playing football at an early age and as far as I can remember it has always been there,” said the 20-year-old, who is currently a professional player concentrating entirely on football. Now it is up to her whether it will stay with brands like top scorer at the U-17 European Championship (nine goals) or whether she will also take off in the Bundesliga. The fantasies in the club and at the DFB have long been stimulated as to what could become of the storm talent, whose father is Angolan and whose mother has American, Mexican and German roots. Shekiera Martinez could still be very helpful with her gift of not being too cerebral about the game, but of being relaxed and carefree.
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