Beyond the pitch: Ivonne's multicultural growth with Seoul Calcio FC

For her, being a player is a chosen escape from monotony, a challenge pursued with a humble attitude and discipline. Credit: Seoul Calcio FC

At 40 years old, Ivonne Ramos, a Colombian defender from Bogotá, found an unexpected reconnection with football in Seoul, bringing back childhood memories with her father.

She recalls being a tiny spectator, mimicking his warm-ups, sharing ice cream while watching matches at the stadium, and simply observing him play in the field.

Decades later, on the pitch, the discipline became a profound and meaningful part of her life in Korea.

Her journey to Seoul Calcio FC, an Italian soccer team based in Korea, was born out of a search for community and a solution to the challenges of language barriers.

Seoul Calcio FC teammates. Credit: Seoul Calcio FC

Surprisingly, the multicultural community of the team provided a warm welcome. It quickly became a relaxed scenario for cultural exchange and genuine friendship, extending far beyond the confines of the football field itself.

Despite the significant time commitment—a 4-hour round-trip commute via public transportation for a mere 2-hour session—training has become a vital interlude from the rigorous demands of her PhD student life. It offers a unique space for mental clarity and physical release, a true "paradigm of time inefficiency" that is, nonetheless, a meaningful sacrifice.

Following the instructions of Matteo Cerica. Credit: Seoul Calcio FC

Her first memory of Seoul Calcio FC is vividly etched in her mind: the bitter cold of a Korean winter, contrasted sharply with the human warmth that followed. After years away from the sport, her first instinct was to kick the ball, only to realize how challenging it was.

It wasn't the impact of the ball that marked her, but the immediate encouragement from Matteo, the Italian Coach, who, with "sweetness and professionalism," showed her proper technique. The entire team, including the Korean female captain, the female defender, and the Mongolian striker (resembling CR7), received her with open arms, as if she had always been expected.

Her perspective on teamwork and competition hasn't changed, but rather "reframed." Football, much like life, demands constant adaptation to field dynamics and leveraging one's capabilities on behalf of the greater unit, the team.

For her, being a player is a chosen escape from monotony, a challenge pursued with a humble attitude and discipline, by following her coach’s instructions and valuing her teammates’ advice.

While she hesitates to give advice, not considering herself an example in the sports world, she emphasizes that finding an alternative activity outside one's usual routine is the healthiest decision for both mind and body.

Ivonne encourages others to experience new challenges, make small sacrifices, and never stop learning, always choosing a discipline for growth, not solely for victory.