INTERVIEW WITH STENIO
Stenio is eleven years old. He lives in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil and is very passionate about soccer.
At what age did you start playing soccer?
I started playing soccer when I was about three or four.
Do you think it is common for children to start playing soccer so early?
If they are Brazilian boys, then definitely yes!
Do most of your friends also play soccer (Both boys and girls)?
Essentially all of me boy friends play soccer. I believe that at our age, it is very uncommon to find boys that do not enjoy playing soccer and watching soccer games. Most girls do not play, however. I only have some girl friends who play with me a few times.
Would you say it is uncommon for girls to show interest in playing soccer?
I don't think it is uncommon. I just do not think it is as common as boys, since ALL boys my age play soccer. We play in school and after school basically every day. In addition, most of us take soccer lessons in different sport clubs in the city. Even after playing with my school friends and at soccer practice, I still like to play at night at the field behind my building with some of my neighbors.
Do you think it was already expected of you (by society, by family, by friends) to be interested in soccer? Do you think it is expected of most children your age?
I don't think it was expected of my by my family, since they do not play a lot of soccer, but I do think my friends and society did, since at my age it is common for boys to play. It is expected of most children my age, but it is not really expected as much of girls.
At what age did you start playing soccer?
I started playing soccer when I was about three or four.
Do you think it is common for children to start playing soccer so early?
If they are Brazilian boys, then definitely yes!
Do most of your friends also play soccer (Both boys and girls)?
Essentially all of me boy friends play soccer. I believe that at our age, it is very uncommon to find boys that do not enjoy playing soccer and watching soccer games. Most girls do not play, however. I only have some girl friends who play with me a few times.
Would you say it is uncommon for girls to show interest in playing soccer?
I don't think it is uncommon. I just do not think it is as common as boys, since ALL boys my age play soccer. We play in school and after school basically every day. In addition, most of us take soccer lessons in different sport clubs in the city. Even after playing with my school friends and at soccer practice, I still like to play at night at the field behind my building with some of my neighbors.
Do you think it was already expected of you (by society, by family, by friends) to be interested in soccer? Do you think it is expected of most children your age?
I don't think it was expected of my by my family, since they do not play a lot of soccer, but I do think my friends and society did, since at my age it is common for boys to play. It is expected of most children my age, but it is not really expected as much of girls.