The Belgian beach soccer international heads to Alanya with Union Vrede: on team spirit, international experience, and building women's beach soccer.

From her first matches playing alongside the boys to the Belgian national jersey and a new adventure with Union Vrede: for Tracy, the sheer joy of the ball remains the driving force behind her journey.

She had left football behind. But the passion never truly went away. In 2020, Tracy discovered beach soccer — and through the sand, she ultimately found her way back to the grass.

©BelgiumBeachSoccer-CyrilKindt

Sometimes a single memory explains why someone keeps playing. For Tracy, that's a goal in Marseille: a free kick from the halfway line, the sheer joy of the squad, and lifting a trophy together in celebration. Her dad, who had cheered her on from the sidelines since she was a little girl, was following the tournament online. Even from afar, he was able to share that special moment with her.

Today, Tracy stands before a new chapter with the Union Vrede women's team. At 37, she brings dedication, experience, and the genuine joy of someone who knows just how much she would miss the game.

She wants to help build a team, keep learning, and encourage other girls to take the leap onto the sand themselves. For her, that ambition starts with something simple: daring to give it a go and holding onto the joy.

1. Could you introduce yourself briefly and tell us a bit about Tracy off the pitch?

My name is Tracy, I'm 37 years old, and I work as an educator. Football plays a very central role in my life.

Off the pitch, I'm a passionate person who loves challenges, travelling, and meeting new people. I also cherish simple moments with my loved ones and exploring new experiences.

Sport gives me so much, both athletically and on a personal level, and I love sharing that passion with others.

©BelgiumBeachSoccer-CyrilKindt

2. How did your love for football begin, and what path have you travelled? Which teams have you played for, and what memories have stayed with you?

I started playing football at the age of nine, alongside the boys. Back then, I didn't overthink it: I just wanted to play, chase the ball, and hang out with my friends. I'm still in touch with those friends today. They've become like family.

I've always loved playing in midfield because you can contribute both in attack and in defence. I would have loved to achieve more in my football career, but I was very shy and sometimes lacked self-confidence.

Among others, I played for several years at RFC Perwez before taking a break. That hiatus made me realise just how much I missed being out on the pitch.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I discovered beach soccer with Newteam. I took part in my first tournament in France and subsequently had the chance to gain incredible experiences, returning to Nazaré several times. Ultimately, all of that also brought me back to 11-a-side football, including with BX Brussels.

Today, I thoroughly enjoy playing, and I'm thrilled to have rediscovered that passion.

I also think it's fantastic that far more young girls are playing football now. When I look back at my own beginnings among the boys, I realise just how much has changed. It's a wonderful development, and I hope it continues to gather pace over the coming years.

3. How did you discover beach soccer, and what made you want to play on the sand?

I discovered beach soccer in 2020, during the pandemic, when I had stopped playing football. At first, I didn't really know what to expect.

The sand completely changes everything you're used to: you tire more quickly, the ball reacts differently, and every movement demands immense precision.

It was a fresh way to live out my passion, and I quickly got hooked. I loved having to constantly improvise and adapt.

I also discovered a very warm, social sport where you make fantastic connections. I never imagined that beach soccer would one day lead me back to football, but that's ultimately exactly what happened!

4. How would you describe your playing style? Which position suits you best, and what qualities do you look to bring?

My favourite position has always been in midfield. I like being at the heart of the play, helping build attacks, and linking defence to attack.

I like receiving the ball, getting my head up, and trying to find the best solution for the team.

I'm not necessarily the player who looks to steal the limelight, but I love making myself useful. I fight for every ball, give everything I have, and try to bring energy and commitment, even when fatigue starts to set in.

5. What do you love most about beach soccer, and which area of your game are you most keen to work on?

What I love most is the sheer enjoyment of playing, the sensation of playing on sand, and the need to constantly adapt.

Even when you know football inside out, you sometimes have to let go of certain instincts and accept that things work differently on the sand.

I also love the unique atmosphere at tournaments: the matches, the camaraderie between teams, and the feeling of sharing a genuine adventure together.

Beach soccer is a very technical sport where you can always keep learning and improving. Personally, I want to keep honing my technical control and physical fitness, especially to stay sharp and effective when fatigue kicks in.

6. What is your fondest sporting memory to date?

My fondest memory is probably my goal in Marseille during an MBT tournament. I scored from a free kick on the halfway line, and we won the trophy!

I can still vividly remember the team's celebrations after that goal and the incredible feeling it brought.

That memory is all the more special because my dad was following the tournament online. Ever since I was young, he's always supported me from the touchline, alongside my sister, who also played football.

He was there for my first matches and every step of my journey. I was genuinely proud that he could watch me play and share that moment, even from a distance.

7. How did you end up at Union Vrede, and what appealed to you about our women's project?

It happened quite naturally after the tournament in Moldova with the national team. I was immensely proud to wear Belgium's colours.

It was a tough journey, but that only strengthened our desire to make progress together and keep building that squad.

I don't know how much longer I'll keep playing, but I hope for as long as possible.

After that, things gradually fell into place, and I felt drawn to being part of this adventure. The idea of joining a group being built around a collective project really resonated with me, even though there's still a long road ahead.

The women's project immediately caught my interest. It's truly motivating to help establish a team from the ground up and contribute to the growth of women's beach soccer.

8. Our women's team is writing the opening pages of its history. What does it mean to be there right from the start?

It's a wonderful opportunity to be part of a project that is just getting under way and to help write its history.

There's something genuinely special about building habits together, forging a team identity, and sharing our first major milestones.

I hope we can help this squad flourish, achieve great results, and show that women's beach soccer has genuine potential.

If our journey also inspires other girls to give it a try, that will be a fantastic victory in itself.

I'd love for us to look back in a few years' time and be able to say that we were there at the beginning of something significant.

9. How would you describe the atmosphere within the squad? What could our strength be against more seasoned teams?

I think our strength can come from our eagerness to learn and the sheer joy we feel when playing together.

We are still building our chemistry and rhythm, but you can feel a genuine willingness to support one another and make progress.

It remains challenging at times, because we all play 11-a-side football throughout the year and juggling both isn't always easy.

We still have things to improve, but we can rely on our togetherness and shared motivation.

During a tournament, there will inevitably be difficult moments: games where legs feel heavy or where we need to dig deep and react quickly.

Experience counts, of course, but the will to fight for each other can make all the difference.

10. What does the World Winners Cup in Alanya mean to you? What are your personal ambitions and expectations for the team?

For me, the World Winners Cup in Alanya represents, above all, an exceptional experience.

It's a chance to get a taste of international competition, face other teams, and keep learning. The atmosphere, the rapid succession of games, and connecting with players from different countries will undoubtedly be deeply rewarding.

Above all, I want to embrace this experience to the fullest, while naturally hoping that we can achieve strong results together.

On a personal level, I want to give it my all, stay focused, and contribute as much as possible to the team.

The goal is to savour this adventure, leave everything on the sand, and return with wonderful memories, whatever the final outcome.

11. If supporters could discover one thing about you during this tournament, what would you like to show them?

I'd love to show just how much passion I have for the ball and how much joy I get from being out on the pitch.

Even when a match turns tough, I always try to stay fully engaged and keep lifting my teammates.

I want to give my absolute best for the squad and enjoy every single second.

For me, the most important thing is to experience this adventure to the fullest and have no regrets.

I'd love for supporters to see an honest, dedicated player who is genuinely thrilled to be here.

12. What message would you like to share with the Union Vrede supporters and with girls who are still hesitating to try beach soccer?

A huge thank you to all the supporters who follow and cheer us on throughout this adventure!

Your support means the world to us, especially in those moments when we need that extra bit of energy.

To any girls who are still hesitant about giving beach soccer a go, I'd simply say: dare to take the leap!

At first, you might be caught off guard by the sand, the fatigue, or the technical demands, but you make progress quickly and you soon catch the bug.

It's a truly wonderful sport where you can push your limits, have an enormous amount of fun, and meet incredible people.

I sincerely hope women's sport continues to grow and thrive in the coming years.

We're already seeing more and more young girls out on the football pitches, and that's fantastic. We need to stay on this path and give women's sport the recognition it deserves. 💛🖤

The sand brought her back to the ball. In Alanya, Tracy is eager to share that rediscovered passion with her team — and perhaps inspire the next young girl to simply give it a try.