South African international midfielder Refiloe Jane extended her stay at AC Milan for another season. She spoke to Milan TV's microphone and shed a light on some interesting topics of her personal and professional life, her goals for this season and much more.
Here's what she said:
On her renewal:
“I feel honoured and excited for my contract renewal. Getting the chance to play one more season for AC Milan. So far, it’s been a great football journey not only for myself but for the team also, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead of us in the coming season.”
On the lessons the rossonere learned from previous seasons:
“From the past seasons we learned that we need to take each game as it comes and the most important thing is to get the results in each and every game, especially in the beginning of the season. how do you start play the huge role in how you are going to finish the season.”
On this season goals:
“As a team there are dreams and there are objectives that we put forward in each and every season and I think this isn't it won't be any different, I’ve achieved some of the goals that we set for ourselves in the previous season, so with this season that you want to play try to achieve some of the goals that we didn't get to achieve in the previous season. but I'm going to take it as it comes then not going to put so much pressure on ourselves by looking ahead, instead of looking at the present moment.”
On her personal and professional evolution after moving to Italy:
“Football wise I think I’ve grown so much, especially having to get out of my comfort zone, to start a new life in a foreign country, where I don't speak the language, I don't know the culture so I think, as a person, outside of football, I've learned so much about adapting and the importance of having relationships and, one thing, I've also need to learn is also the language, I need to get it right because one of the most important thing that our notice for me and also in going forward.”
On a message to Kid Refiloe Jane:
“If I could meet myself as a kid, I would tell my younger self 'follow your dreams, no big is too big for you as long as you have the will and the courage and the discipline, always makes for the stars because no dreams are unachievable'.”
On giving back to the community:
“By inspiring people with my talent, I don't take it for granted. I usually tell myself that the talented I’ve been blessed with it’s for a reason and when I use it, I not only use it for myself but I also use it for the young kids out there. My journey should be used as a motivation, especially for people from where I come from, South Africa. Coming from a unprivileged background, it shows that as long as you have that dream and the necessary support, no dream is unachievable. So, having started the Rafiloe Jane foundation, I'm hoping to inspire the next generation, the support that I had, through playing, I want to give it back to the kids, I want to bring their dreams closer to them, whether its academics, or it’s football wise or about life in general, all I want you to change the next generation.”
