Canadian goalkeeper stands out at Botafogo and prepares for classic at Women’s Carioca

Kelly Chiavaro has a beautiful story with football since she was a kid

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2023-10-19 16:48:23

Image Credits: © (Courtesy)

Kelly Chiavaro is Canadian, originally from Italy, who today scores Fogão’s goal. The North American goalkeeper is the starter in Botafogo’s, so far, undefeated campaign in the Carioca Championship. But, before shining on Brazilian football, the player went through ups and downs in her career.

Kelly has always been involved with football, since she was five years old. Still in her home country, the goalkeeper started playing at a football school. Her parents were also athletes, so they always encouraged their daughter’s passion for this world.

“I went through all the possible categories in Canadian football, but I realized that the sport there wasn’t evolving, there wasn’t much room for evolution, and that’s still the case today, there’s no professional league. So, when I arrived at college, I won the scholarship to play women’s football in New York, at Colgate University”, says the player.

After keeping her mind on football in the United States, the goalkeeper received an offer to play in Israel, for Hemek Hefer, where she stayed for a season, gaining professional experience and then moving to Napoli, in Italy. She also stayed there for a season, until she and her girlfriend, Sole James, received an offer from Flamengo in July 2022 and they decided to move to Brazil together.

“We received the opportunity to go to Flamengo and we know how Brazil is a country that breathes football. We embraced this opportunity and came here. We really enjoy getting to know new cultures, traveling, and so we would only benefit from this chance Brazil is a country very rich in culture and we fell in love immediately”, said the goalkeeper.

She stayed at Flamengo for eight months, but ended up not having many opportunities and received an offer to play for rival Botafogo. She arrived at black and white in March and is now the holder of the position and has been fundamental to Fogão’s campaign in Women’s Carioca.

“Botafogo is a very organized and professional team. I’m training a lot and I see great progress compared to when I arrived. The environment is great, I’m adapting better with the language and with my teammates. I feel very good to play”, says the player.

Kelly’s next game for the Rio de Janeiro black and white team is this Sunday (22), at 3pm (Brasília time), against Fluminense, at home, in the fifth round of the State Championship.