Chloe Mustaki: ‘When the messages were coming through on my phone, I definitely had tears in my eyes’

Winning your first international cap was always going to be an emotional experience. However, for Chloe Mustaki Saturday night’s international debut for Ireland was a milestone that meant so much more due to the difficulties that the Shelbourne player had to overcome to make it to that point.

The tears on the bus after the match looking at the messages of congratulations on her phone were a reflection of the tears that she shed on occasion during her long rehabilitation following a serious knee injury she suffered at Ireland training camp two years ago - on the eve of what was expected to be her first senior cap.

Mustaki has worked so hard to recover from that ACL injury, also having to cope with beginning her rehab work during the early months of COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Her resilience is in no doubt having earlier in her life battled back from the cancer diagnosis she received just a couple of weeks after captaining the Republic of Ireland at the 2014 under-19 European Championship.

Tears

“When the messages were coming through on my phone, I definitely had tears in my eyes on the bus on the way back to the hotel,” said Mustaki speaking from Spain the day after her international debut in the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 loss to Russia in the Pinatar Cup.

“It was a long time coming and something I worked really hard on as coming back from the ACL tear was really hard. It was something that not only I worked towards in the last two years but as a youngster going through the underage structures so getting a first cap meant a lot to me.

“There are some individuals who I cried in front of at different stages of my rehab,” said the 26-year-old Shelbourne player. 

“There were some really low points then. I didn't get running pain free until nine or ten months (after the operation) which is really really late. It is normally four or five months post op so.

"When it got to seven months and I wasn't running pain free, I started to freak out. Overall I knew I'd get there, I just didn't know who long it would take. 

“Everyone came up to me after the game to congratulate me. I think everyone knows how much it means to me.

Setbacks

"Not just the ACL but the lymphoma when I was younger, finishing my under-19 career and two weeks later being diagnosed with cancer. Coming back from that and being so close to my first senior cap and tearing my ACL. 

“Unfortunalty I was hit with quite a bad setback at the age of 19 when I was diagnosed (with lymphoma). I think you need to keep perspective, everyone will have road bumps along the way.

"You just need to keep going as there is just no other option. As long as you have the right people around you to keep you going on the bad days, that is all that matters as life is a mixture of ups and downs.”

Support

The Shelbourne player spoke about the crucial support she got from her club, her family and friends including her boyfriend - Dundalk player - Greg Sloggett.

“They played a big part in helping me get through the tough times. It was so emotional and I don't want to start crying on this (zoom) call. I'm sure there will be tears when I go home. 

"It will take a few days to get through all the messages. I am really proud of myself and I don't pat myself on the back too much but I can after last night.”

The player was a late call up to the Ireland squad, only flying out on the eve of Ireland’s 2-1 win over Poland last week.

With the World Cup on the horizon, Ireland currently stand second in the table at the half way point in qualification for the 2023 tournament and Mustaki is hoping to continue to be part of Vera Pauw’s plans in the future.

“I want to be in every single camp over the next year and a half as we prepare for the World Cup but I also need to take a step back and be proud of how far I've come.

"Last summer I was struggling getting through training sessions pain free with Shelbourne and seven months later I'm playing for Ireland.”

Professional

She admits that if she is to continue with the girls in green then she will realistically need to make the move away from the WNL to become a full time professional but at the moment she is focused on performing well for Shelbourne with the new season due to start next month.

Mustaki, who previously played with Bordeaux and Charlton Athletic, for the moment will continue to combine playing with Shels and working for an executive recruitment company.

“If I want to keep my place more regularly in the Irish team I need make the move abroad. I did flirt with the idea in January of going back to England but it is early days in my return and I need to make sure that the move I make is the right one under the right circumstances.” 

Vera Pauw proud of growth of her team after defeat to Russia https://t.co/rarzcn0URPpic.twitter.com/FUBkeYmHhX

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) February 20, 2022