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 girl thing. Those comments did not discourage her. In love with the world's most popular sport, soccer, in her first year of the Communication major she began working as a radio journalist and covered sports for the newspaper Opinión. That opened the doors for her 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 brands in the country. Salma is an example of resilience and perseverance.
How did your story with soccer begin, what did it mean to you when you were a girl, and what place does it occupy in your life today?
My story with soccer started from a very young age, almost without me realizing it. It was that moment of the day where everything made sense: recesses playing with my friends, weekends dreaming of soccer jerseys I saw on the street, or simply dreaming of being inside a big field one day. As a child, soccer was my refuge and my way of expressing myself without speaking. Today, although I no longer play it the same way, it remains the center of my life. Everything I do: my work, my projects, even my studies, has a connection to soccer. It is a passion that accompanies me, challenges me, and gives me purpose.
You once said that your "dreams were kicked out of you," 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 over time I understood it from resilience. When an injury or a situation takes away something you love, you feel like you are left without direction. But that blow taught me to rebuild myself, not to define myself only by what I did, but by what soccer had left me as a person. I learned that dreams can be transformed, that I could remain linked 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 point did you discover that sports journalism could be a way to stay connected to soccer, but from another place?
I discovered it when I started to really want to express my opinion on what I saw: the players, the matches, the decisions on and off the field. In my house, almost nobody watches soccer, so I felt that need to talk to someone, to share what I thought. And that's when I realized that I could turn that into something bigger: telling, analyzing, debating, connecting with others through that same passion. Sports journalism became that band-aid on my heart that I was missing.
At your young age you already work in the marketing area of FC Universitario and you are a partner in a coffee shop, what did starting a business and taking on such big responsibilities while studying teach you?
It taught me that dreams are built by working, not just by dreaming. Taking on big responsibilities while being young constantly tests you: you learn to organize yourself, to fail, to get back 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 that your education at UPB is helping you turn your passions into real opportunities?
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 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 capabilities, and to professionalize my passions.
In sports, as in life, there are falls, injuries, and restarts, what would you say today to young women who feel that their dreams were stopped by 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 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 is visible later when you get back up. The important thing is not to stop believing in yourself.
Between soccer, university, work, and entrepreneurship, how do you find balance and motivation to keep growing?
Balance is relative, it does not always exist as such. But I do try to keep the focus on why I do what I do. I am motivated by thinking that everything is part of the same dream: growing, learning, and leaving a mark. There are days when fatigue weighs heavily, but there is also a part of me that enjoys being on the move. Knowing that I am building my path with effort and passion gives me the energy to keep going.
How do you imagine the future of sports journalism made by women and what role would you like to have in that transformation?
I imagine it as freer, more empathetic, and more diverse. I believe that we women are changing the way sport is told, bringing sensitivity, depth, and new perspectives. I would like to be an active part of that change, continue opening up spaces, and demonstrate that soccer 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 left a mark on you: Interstellar. It marked me because of the relationship between the father and the daughter. My dad passed away when I was seven years old, and every time I watch the movie I feel like 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 perseverance open more doors than any talent.
A phrase or principle that guides your life: “If you fall seven times, stand 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 that you have learned to transform or that has 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.
