243 matches. One goal. Three yellow cards. And never out of play. – I don’t know what the secret is, says Mali. She is a right-back in a sport where injuries happen often and where most are either suspended due to too many yellow and red cards, or get an injury every now and then. But not Mali. Played with broken ribs For Mali has been on the field in all matches in the Toppserien since the 2014 season. Mali has been at the club for a long time – also when they were called Trondheims-Ørn. And with so many games, it’s easy to see how much the coaches have trusted her skills. – All footballers want to play most of the matches, and I have been lucky to have been allowed to do so. Today she is a full-time professional, but she has also combined football with work and school. There hasn’t always been time for recovery. But Mali believes part of the reason why she is virtually never out of action is about the joy of exercise. – I have been used to training a lot. It is rare that I miss a training session. She has also had some injuries, but says it has been about gritting her teeth. – I have had overuse injuries and broken ribs, but nothing that has put me out of action. As a child, Cesilie Andreassen did not dare to dream of playing in a packed Lerkendal. But now the football dream can become reality. In the same class as Brad Friedel Not many have managed to play so many games in a row without a break, but there are cases. In the English top division, goalkeeper Brad Friedel holds the record with 310 games in a row. Ingrid Moe Wold had 195 league games in a row for Lillestrøm, a record Mali has now broken. news has also been in contact with the Norwegian Football Association, which has also not heard of similar cases in Norwegian football. – It is an enormous strength, both for us and for her. That’s what RBK Women’s sporting director, Mads Pettersen, says, who is impressed by what Mali has achieved. – When we work to have as much continuity as possible, she is the answer to that. He believes it is quite unique, and also believes that it is not only about injuries and suspensions. It is also about having the same level of trust in all the trainers she has had. – There is credit to her. Mali Næss hunts for gold with RBK Kvinner. Photo: Mathias Mikalsen / news Chasing gold While Mali has impressive statistics on the number of matches, there are still things she is not completely satisfied with. Because in so many games, she could perhaps think of more goals. – I have scored one goal in all those seasons, she says with a laugh. And the club that is chasing its first gold like Rosenborg needs it. The gap to Vålerenga is still eight points. Mali works to contribute also with goal points. – I work on the offensive. But I will stay and have gotten better.
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Mali Næss in RBK has played every league game since 2014 – news Trøndelag
