“When I choose, this is what I want to achieve!”

This time it's about a special little girl. Ruxandra Nedelescu (14 years old), exceptional student, in the 8th grade, but also a pure-blood scorer. In two sports in parallel, football and handball.

Ruxandra Nedelescu, 69 goals in 14 stages in the U17 championship

He plays for Prahova Ploiesti, and in this season of the second league championship, U17, he shattered any efficiency record: he scored 69 times in 14 stages. He thus has an average of 4.92 goals per match, in a competition where he has opponents 2-3 years older.

He recently made his debut for the senior team, where he scored his first goal in the championship, from the penalty, in the match lost 3-1 against Kids Brașov.

But that's not all. In parallel, “Ruxi” as everyone calls him, also plays handball, extreme right in the junior team 3 from CSM Ploiești, with very good results.

What does a weekend look like for her? On Fridays they play football at U17, on Saturdays they perform in the handball team, and on Sundays they enter the senior championship, in the second league. He practices handball every day, football almost every day.

There are days when he leaves home around 10:00, does a handball practice, goes to school, then goes to football training. He changes and eats on the road, in the car and arrives home only after 12 hours. He doesn't have time to spend too much time on the phone or go out with friends.

“I can't decide, I love both sports equally!”

A true captain, not only because he wears the captain's armband, for the U17s but also for the seniors.

Because Prahova Ploiești decided to use more juniors in the senior competition, to give them the chance to accumulate experience.

Ruxi tells that “from a very young age I was attracted to sports, to exercise. I tried several disciplines, swimming, fencing, gymnastics, then dances, including popular ones. I came to handball thanks to my older brother. He was already playing, I went to his matches and I really liked it. So I also went to handball around 8-9 years old”.

After only one year, he got to football: “I was always playing with my brother and my cousins ​​wherever I could, in the parks, in the parking lots. My mother saw me and then I found information on the Internet that selections are being made for a team, MX Pro Ploiești, in women's football.

When I got there, there were only boys. There were only two girls. But I stayed and that's how I started as a goalkeeper, for the boys. That's how I met Mr. Teodorescu, at a match with his team. He told me that he would like me to come and play at Prahova Ploiesti and I went.

They had just made a girl team. I played goalkeeper for about three matches, but after that I told him I wanted to play in the field. And so it all began. Since then I do both sports in parallel.

It's hard, tiring, my days are very busy, but when you have passion, it doesn't matter anymore. Honestly, I still can't decide what to choose. I would, but not yet, because it is very difficult for me to give up any of these sports”.

She became the national champion in the U15 category, and now, in the U17 team, she is preparing to start the Elite competition, in just a few days.

Unde Prahova Ploiești qualified after finishing 2nd in Series 1 of the national championship, 3 points behind Rapid. In men's football, her idol is Messi and in women's it is the national team's top scorer, Adina Borodi.

At 14 years old, he already has “a plan B” prepared!

Ruxandra Nedelescu speaks with nonchalance and determination about the future. In the summer he has the aptitude test and says that “I would like to go to an economic high school”. And then he thinks about attending a faculty of economic studies. You would have expected him to choose something simpler, to go for sports.

He explains, however, that “maybe I won't succeed in sports, or an injury may occur and I won't be able to do this anymore. So I have to think about having a plan B.” How many 14 year olds or older are already thinking of “a plan B”?!.

He also says that “my main qualities are speed, technique, ambition, constant perseverance and team spirit. I never know how many goals I score in a match, coach Teodorescu also tells me.

I don't keep score, I only care about my team winning. On the faults, I have to improve my concentration for the moments when I'm one on one with the opposing goalkeeper”.

Handball helps her in soccer in terms of explosion from the spot, soccer helps her in handball through resistance to effort. And Ruxandra still can't decide what she wants to choose.

But the football developments of the youngster, who is full of personality, talent and determination, did not go unnoticed, including at a higher level. So the selector Iulia Mera summoned her to the individual training camp of the U15 national team, which took place in February, in Mogoșoaia.

Towards the end of the discussion, when he talks about what might come next in sports, Ruxi simply says bluntly: “Even if I don't know what I will choose, I want to make it to the senior national team and perform at the highest possible level!”. What can you say, any comment would be superfluous!

14 goalsof which 8 until the break, Ruxandra Nedelescu scored in a U17 championship match, second league, against Daco-Getica (19-0)

Adrian Teodorescu: “A player like Ruxi is born once every 50 years!”

President and coach at Prahova Ploiești, Adrian Teodorescu tells that “three years ago I noticed Ruxi, who was at MX Pro. We had a friendly with them, but we were missing the goalkeeper. On the field there was a girl with gloves playing in the goal, with the ball.

The coach at MX PRO was Ionuț Neagu and he agreed for her to play for us. I noticed that he hit the ball well, that he did not always rush to catch it, but that he had the instincts of a fielder. After that match, I didn't talk to her for about 3 months, when we used to meet at matches.

Then, with Ionuț's approval, I went to her house, talked with her parents, who also agreed to play at Prahova Ploiesti. In the beginning, the first 3 matches he was in goal! Then I made the decision together with her, to play with number 10, but at the top of the attack.

I had seen his physical and technical quality. Her mother brought her 3 times a week to the field, where we did individual training. Shots on goal, free kicks! She was never absent, never excused herself for being sick or tired, even though she was playing handball at the same time!

It's a real football phenomenon! A talent that is born once every 50 years! He loves sports, football and handball! But I think she will become a great footballer!”.

Ruxandra was very energetic as a child. He tried several sports, and now he also plays handball and football. It goes with both, it doesn't give up anything. It has not been decided yet. We suggested that it might be time to choose one. And we support her no matter what, but let her decide. She has a very busy schedule, but she is very competitive and when she puts her mind to something, she doesn't back down. In addition, he studies very well in school too!

– Ionuț Nedelescu, Ruxandra's father