The Women’s Premier League is more exciting than ever. With five games to go, four teams are in the race for the championship. Leader PSV has the best credentials for the first national title in club history. With the ambitious Emma Frijns (21) from Uden as a running prodigy in the back line. “I’m often asked how much lung capacity I have.”
It is the dream of many young football players: a professional career. It was different with Frijns. “It may sound crazy, but professional football has never been my goal. I always had a great time with the boys from UDI’19. We played at a good level, regularly against professional clubs. Actually, it just grew that way and I made the move to PSV in 2020.”
From the youth academy she moved to Jong PSV. She made her debut in the first team at the end of May 2022, after which she signed a professional contract two years later. This season, the Udense is a permanent fixture in coach Roeland ten Berge’s team.
“I played quite a lot, although that is also because there were a lot of injuries in the backline at the beginning of the season,” she says after the 4-1 win against NAC on Sunday. “There was a spot at the center back for me, but I can now also play in the back positions more often. I like that the most, then I can run forward. That is my trademark, I can keep going the entire match.”
PSV has the (first) national title in its own hands, because with five matches to go it is one point ahead of FC Twente. Ajax follows on three points, Feyenoord on five. Ajax will visit Eindhoven on Sunday April 5, the last matchday will be a visit to arch-rival FC Twente. “We are working on that leading position, these are final weeks for us. But we are mainly focusing on the field game. If we improve, the goals will automatically come from that.”
There is another chance to win a prize on Saturday, May 16. That day the cup final is scheduled against FC Twente. The double in Eindhoven this year? “Yes, I think it should work. We are doing well and working hard, hopefully it will be enough for the prizes.”
In addition to winning prizes at PSV, there is another clear sporting goal: the Dutch national team. “I experienced the World Cup in Colombia with the Dutch Juniors. That was so wonderful to experience and we did well with a fourth place. The big Dutch team would be great, I am fully committed to that.”
