"Use this time to recharge batteries"

The Tromsø-born striker moved to England at a young age, leaving his hometown club for Chelsea FC. Hence, from the age of 17, he developed his football skills at the London club as well as Forest Green, and later on loan at Rosenborg. “Usually, I didn’t have much [free] time around the holidays and I spent Christmas wherever I was currently playing. Now I have more of it and it is a big deal to me and the whole family that we will have a get-together in Norway. There will be traditional food, gifts, and a chance to spend time with each other,” explained Fiabema.

Back when Fiabema played in England, he didn’t return to Norway for Christmas because most of the time, his team would train on December 24^th. However, his family made sure that he never spent the holidays alone. “In England, Christmas is celebrated slightly differently because the most important day is December 25^th. Hence, we had training sessions the day before and I didn’t go home, but my mom and my relatives would visit me, which are nice memories,” highlighted the 21-year-old.

“I always enjoyed receiving toys; nowadays the kids usually get socks with small sweets inside. The adults hide small and big gifts across the house, and the children need to find them – it’s called Julegeit. I also used to do that when I was young, but only occasionally; it’s become more common recently,” said the Norwegian striker.

And what does Christmas look like in Fiabema’s home? Plenty of traditional meals, long conversations, catching up with close ones, and… football. “On Christmas Eve, we get together in one house, all of the uncles, aunts, cousins, and my sisters – there are more or less 15 of us. I also look forward to it; it’s a special event for us. I want to use this time to recharge batteries and return [to Poznań] full of new energy. The upcoming Christmas are the first holiday in many years that I will be able to fully enjoy with my loved ones. However, there will be space for football – after all, during that time Premier League is playing so we will watch a game or two,” emphasized the striker who made 17 league appearances for Lech in the autumn round of PKO BP Ekstraklasa.