The quiet rise of Babett Peter
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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Babett Peter has established herself as Germany's first-choice left-back but the 21-year-old, whose childhood was blighted by a facial nerve disease, told uefa.com: "I don't like to be in the spotlight."
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Germany left-back Babett Peter may not be the highest-profile player in the nearest European women's football has to an all-star team but her role in the holders' run to the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ semi-finals has been crucial. However, she told uefa.com: "I just don't like to be in the spotlight."
Discomfort
When Peter was five she contracted facial nerve paresis, a disease that produces paralysis in the face. "The origin of the disease is unknown, I had different treatments, but nothing really helped me," said Peter, now 21, who was brought some relief by surgery six years ago. "It doesn't have any effect on the pitch, but I feel uncomfortable, as I never know how people will react."
'More confident'
Her introversion has not hurt her career, though. She has been in the Germany squad for three years, part of the squad that won the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2008 Olympic bronze, and for this tournament has won a regular place. "For three years I have been part of the team and I am fully accepted," Peter said. "It helped a lot in developing my skills, not being in the limelight, compared to other young players in our team. I know I had some [attacking] deficits, but I am more confident now."
Different formation
Peter also helped 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam win the German title last season, playing on the left of a back three. "I can switch within two or three days, that's no problem," said Peter, who explained why a right-footed player ended up on the left. "Kerstin Stegemann was just too strong as right full-back, so I could only play as left-back."
New targets
Although she came to Finland just hoping to start, Peter is now determined to aid Germany to a fifth straight European crown. "Preparing for the tournament, my target was to become a starter, now I want to win the title," said Peter, who has been relaxing by reading crime novels. "I have loads of books with me. Right now I am reading Simon Beckett's 'Whispers of the Dead'." But neither the nerve-cracking content of that book, nor sitting next to basketball star Dirk Nowitzki on the way back from Beijing to Frankfurt after the Olympics, can make her nervous. "We just had some small talk about our impressions there, but we were both very tired and slept for nine hours."