Salma Kattan
Communication student
Passion, purpose, and a new way of playing life.
Salma Kattan was told that her greatest passion was not for her, that it was not a girls' thing. Those comments did not discourage her. In love with the world's most popular sport, football, in her first year of her Communication major she began working as a radio journalist and did sports coverage for the newspaper Opinión. That opened the doors to a traditionally male field. Today, she is in charge of communication for the professional division team Universitario de Vinto and is a partner in one of the best-known coffee sales brands in the country. Salma is an example of resilience and perseverance.
How did your story with football start, what did it mean to you as a child, and what place does it occupy in your life today?
My story with football started from a very young age, almost without my realizing it. It was that moment of the day where everything made sense: recesses playing with my friends, weekends dreaming about football shirts I saw on the street, or simply dreaming of being inside a big pitch someday. As a child, football was my refuge and my way of expressing myself without speaking. Today, although I no longer play it in the same way, it remains the center of my life. Everything I do: my work, my projects, even my studies, has a connection with football. It is a passion that accompanies me, challenges me, and gives me purpose.
You once said that your "dreams were kicked broken," what did you learn from that moment and how did it help you rebuild your path?
Yes, it was a phrase that came from pain, but with time I understood it from resilience. When an injury or a situation takes away something you love, you feel like you are left without a direction. But that blow taught me to rebuild myself, not to define myself only by what I did, but by what football had left me as a person. I learned that dreams can be transformed, that I could remain connected to what I love, even if from another place. That stage helped me discover new ways of living my passion, and from there everything I do today was born.
At what moment did you discover that sports journalism could be a way to remain linked to football, but from another place?
I discovered it when I started to really want to voice my opinion on what I saw: the players, the matches, the decisions on and off the field. In my house, almost no one watches football, so I felt that need to talk to someone, to share what I thought. And that's when I realized I could turn that into something bigger: telling, analyzing, debating, connecting with others through that same passion. Sports journalism became that band-aid for the heart that I was missing.
At your young age, you already work in the marketing area of FC Universitario and are a partner in a coffee shop, what did undertaking and taking on such big responsibilities teach you while studying?
It taught me that dreams are built by working, not just dreaming. Taking on big responsibilities while young constantly tests you: you learn to organize yourself, to fail, to get up, to trust your ideas and, above all, to prioritize; you leave many things aside, trusting that everything will return. Entrepreneurship made me value every small achievement and understand that opportunities do not come on their own; you have to look for them, even when it is scary. Sometimes I feel tired, but also proud to see that everything I do makes sense and makes me grow.
The Communication major offers many doors, how do you feel your education at the UPB is helping you turn your passions into real opportunities?
The UPB has given me much more than classes; it gave me vision and guidance. Something I value greatly is the support of my professors: they were always willing to guide me, give me advice, and even more personalized classes when I needed it. Thanks to them, I was able to take advantage of more opportunities, grow in my projects, and connect what I learn with what I love. I feel that the university drives me to transform my ideas into something concrete, to believe in my abilities, and to professionalize my passions.
In sports, as in life, there are falls, injuries, and restarts, what would you say today to young girls who feel their dreams came to a halt due to an unexpected blow?
I would tell them to allow themselves to feel, that there is nothing wrong with stopping and crying if they need to. But never to think that everything is over. Sometimes blows only change your path, not your destination. Dreams can be rebuilt, reinvented, and even improved. Every fall leaves a lesson, and that strength shows later when you get back up. The important thing is not to stop believing in yourself.
Between football, university, work, and entrepreneurship, how do you find balance and motivation to keep growing?
Balance is relative, it doesn't always exist as such. But I do try to stay focused on why I do what I do. It motivates me to think that everything is part of the same dream: to grow, learn, and leave a mark. There are days when fatigue weighs, but there is also a part of me that enjoys being in motion. Knowing that I am building my path with effort and passion gives me energy to keep going.
How do you imagine the future of sports journalism done by women, and what role would you like to have in that transformation?
I imagine it freer, more empathetic, and more diverse. I believe that we women are changing the way sports are told, bringing sensitivity, depth, and new perspectives. I would like to be an active part of that change, to continue opening spaces and to show that football can also be narrated from the heart, without losing professionalism. I hope my work inspires other girls to believe that they can also be there, where before it seemed there was no place for us.
INSIGHTS:
A book or movie that marked you: Interstellar. It marked me because of the relationship between the father and the daughter. My father passed away when I was seven years old, and every time I watch the movie I feel it reflects that: that love and connection with someone can go beyond time, space, and life itself.
A person you deeply admire: My mom. For her strength, her calm, and her way of making everything seem possible even when it isn't. She taught me that humility and consistency open more doors than any talent.
A phrase or principle that guides your life: “If you fall seven times, get up eight.” I heard it when I was nine years old and, since then, it stuck with me. Every time something gets complicated, I repeat it to myself. It is my reminder that no matter how many times something knocks you down, you can always get back up.
Your most precious asset: My resilience. It has been what allowed me to keep going when I felt everything was falling apart. Thanks to it, I learned to rebuild myself, to adapt, and to trust that everything has its moment.
A fear you have learned to transform or that left you a lesson: The fear of failing. Before it used to paralyze me, now I see it as part of the process. Failing also teaches, builds your character, and prepares you for what is to come.
A favorite flavor or gastronomic experience: COFI's matcha, definitely. It brings me calm and is a treat I could always have.