Chiara’s story

Having dealt with plenty of adversity so far through her young playing career, Blizzard alumnus Chiara Canini reflected on the past year, her first season at Chicago State University, as a person mature beyond her years would.

“I was fighting for a position but I learned you can’t control everyone else,” she stated. “It was a challenging season but I took it as a self-improvement year.”

Chiara played over 800 minutes for the Cougars in 2023, starting seven of 15 games, including five straight appearances in the starting XI, before she was injured and sat out the rest of the season. The team only won four of 16 games. But she will be better prepared for the challenges in her junior year because of what she has overcome to get to this stage.

Chiara’s Blizzard story began six years ago when she was scouted by Head Coach Joe Parolini in a friendly match while she was playing for Bolton Wanderers.

“He really liked me and came to one of my practices,” Chiara remembers. “I grew up at Bolton and didn’t want to leave but I was encouraged to join the Blizzard because I wasn’t being exposed to a high enough competition. I felt that I’d rather be the worst one on a good team and improve, than the best player on a bad team and not have anywhere to go.”

Chiara says she was attracted not only by the competition but also by the skill level at the Blizzard Academy.

“I remember my first session was a lot of ball work and scrimmaging,” she recalls.  “Everything was very intense but, in all that, you feel that reassurance that I’m doing this for a reason. Our 02/03 age group was very hard-working because we all knew what it took to get to where we wanted.”

A natural defender, Chiara is a player that has shown a lot of versatility, having performed in a variety of roles from centre back to wing back to striker.

“I came to the team as a centre back,” Chiara stated. “With my speed, Joe would occasionally put me up top as a winger or striker. I’m left footed so I am comfortable playing anywhere on that side. I love game time so wherever you put me, I’ll figure it out.”

During her three years with the Blizzard program, Chiara’s development stalled at times, due to a knee injury and the Covid breakout. In her graduating year, the recruitment process was not what she expected, and she settled for Garden City, a Junior College in Kansas.     

“Joe knew JUCO wasn’t what I wanted but I made the most of it,” Chiara explained. “There were a lot of international players so you felt more comfortable. I met people from all over the world. Those were the positives.

“On the negative side, I didn’t get along with the coaching style,” she admitted. “The emphasis was on clearances. I’m very much a give and go player and I felt myself decline because I wasn’t learning much.”

That and the extreme heat made for a difficult transition to collegiate soccer.

“I’ve never experienced heat like that. It was almost 40 degrees Celsius in training. It was good for conditioning though.”

One of the other positives from that JUCO year was the fact that Chiara also ran track and it helped her focus on her speed training. She competed in five events, including the 200 metres, team relays and long jump.

“The track coach selected me and he gave me the experience that I was lacking,” she recalled. “I liked it for the extra fitness during soccer’s off season.”

Following her freshman season, Chiara was looking for a transfer to a school with a higher level of competition and, after a recruiting process that included three colleges, she chose Chicago State University.

“I talked to Chicago State a few times,” Chiara admitted. “It wasn’t the highest ranked team but they wanted me the most of the schools that recruited me and I did like the coach at the time.”

However, just before pre-season arrived, Chiara was dealt another setback.

“When I got there, a coaching change happened,” she recalled. “Players were given the option to leave and it did cross my mind but my options were limited so I stayed. It was easier for me to adapt because I was new to the team.”

Despite the difficult season she endured, Chiara is happy with the choice she made. “We play a European style,” she confirmed. “It’s simple, quick ball movement. I was competing for my position with a senior so I learned to fight for my spot.”

At Chicago State, Chiara is majoring in medical sciences, specifically Kinesiology and Physical Therapy.

“I really like Physical therapy, maybe because I’ve been injured so often,” she laughed. “I learned so much during my knee injury, especially how to exercise and rehab. I’ve always been interested in human function and movement. I’m a bit of an exercise freak and I like a challenge. I’m proud that I have a 4.0 GPA.”

After college, Chiara’s ambition is to play professionally, and she has a preference for Europe.

“I would love to turn pro but I want to stay realistic and humble,” she admitted. “Most female pros still have day jobs. I want to go to Italy because I’m half Italian. It would be amazing to live and play there. That’s my dream but I would also love to play in the U.S.”

To a young player joining the Blizzard academy, Chiara has one simple piece of advice.

“Just listen to what Joe tells you,” she insists. “Sometimes you have to read between the lines but he does have your best intentions at heart. The nice thing is that Joe will try to improve you and he’ll always back you up. It’s also important to work on yourself and improve. You learn that you have to be highly competitive and if you put out the best you have, you’ll get the best returns.”

That’s sage advice from a wise young person who has overcome adversity time and time again.