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The spotlight is on Racheal Kundananji and she is fully aware of it. At just 23 years old, the Zambian footballer made history as the most expensive female player ever after her transfer from Madrid CFF to Bay FC for a staggering $788,000 (£620,000). It is certainly a remarkable achievement.
The Guardian interviewed the striker from Ndola, where they stated they are under a lot of pressure due to a record-breaking transfer fee. However, they are determined to stay calm, concentrate on their job, and keep playing football.
This is only the beginning and not the end. The fans have high expectations and opponents may not be as friendly. As a result, there is a lot of pressure.
Bay City, a new team in the National Women’s Soccer League, is located in San Jose, California and was founded by four former players of the USA women’s national team – Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton, and Leslie Osborne, in collaboration with the investment firm Sixth Street. Their debut game in the NWSL will be against Angel City in Los Angeles on March 16.
The road to the top has not always been straightforward for the former 800m and 1500m middle-distance runner but she has picked up knowledge and experience at every corner. The second of five children, Kundananji was raised by a mother she describes as tough.
“I began playing soccer in the neighborhood with the young boys, especially after school,” she explains. “There was a man associated with Mufulira Blackpool [a Zambian club in the Copperbelt region, also hometown of Bwalya Kalusha, who was the African footballer of the year in 1988] who formed some teams and I was a member of one of them.”
Playing football brings me immense joy each time I engage in it. It has been a significant aspect of my life and I could easily spend all day playing without getting bored. In the past, my family environment was tough, and my mother did not tolerate any misbehavior. As I grew older, she discovered that my friends and I were spending a considerable amount of time playing football, but when I was younger, she believed we were simply enjoying ourselves. Her understanding of my passion for the sport only came about when she found out about my regular games at a nearby field, and she was pleased with it as it kept me out of trouble.
In 2018, Kundananji began her rise in club career when she joined Indeni Roses in Ndola. She caught the team’s attention while playing for Konkola Blades in Chililabombwe, her hometown. In 2019, she took a big risk by signing with BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan, who were participating in the Champions League at the time.
“I come from Africa, and this presented a chance for me to leave the continent,” she explained. “It may not have seemed logical at the beginning, but I knew I had to start somewhere. As soon as I learned that they were in the Champions League – a long-time aspiration of mine – I jumped at the opportunity.”
Competing in Europe’s premier tournament did not improve my experience in Kazakhstan, especially because I was one of the few African players in the country. For three years, I resided in Shymkent, a small town, where I can honestly say it was not easy for people like me. Black individuals are not a common sight there. In contrast to other European cities and countries, it was a very different experience for us to be seen on the streets.
Despite facing hardship, this athlete remained focused on her goal of making it in European club play. She states confidently that once a soldier, always a soldier, able to overcome any obstacle. She recognizes that in order to achieve success, one must learn to adapt and persevere. Her determination to play in a bigger league allowed her to overcome any adversity and create opportunities for herself. She understands that the path to success is paved with challenges.
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Kundananji did not hesitate to join Liga F’s Eibar when they offered her a move to Spain, even though her current club, Kazygurt, offered her a higher salary to stay. She explains, “I had to leave everything behind and go to Spain. My club in Kazakhstan even tried to raise my salary to five times what I was earning, but I still said no because I wanted to play in Spain and face the best competition in a league where I would be challenged to score.”
In her debut season at Madrid CFF in 2022, following her transfer from Eibar, she impressively scored 25 goals in 23 games. This strong performance caught the attention of Bay City, who ultimately paid a record-breaking fee to acquire her. In reflecting on her success, she credits her teammates, coaches, and fans for creating a supportive and tight-knit team environment, which allowed her to thrive. Overall, her experience at Madrid CFF was highly positive.
Her attention is now on San Jose and her goal of leaving a mark in American football, a place she had never visited until accepting her new contract. “I am not placing any pressure on myself. This trip to the United States is not unfamiliar to me… Our generation has been chosen and you can expect more records to be surpassed. We are the generation that will demonstrate the immense talent that exists in Africa.”
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Source: theguardian.com
