Report by: Olaleye Oluwadamilola
Racheal Kundananji is relishing the attention and expectations that come with being the world’s most expensive women’s footballer following her record move to the NWSL this season.
The Zambia forward became the most expensive female player ever two months ago when she joined Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $788,000 (£620,000) and she is only 23 years old. It is a lot to take in.
Zambia’s dream of playing in two consecutive Olympics could be realized should they overcome Morocco in the final round of qualifiers to be played over two legs.
“At first, I was so nervous about everything. I was thinking I was maybe going to fail. I had to tell myself that I had done this before and why should I fail now. I told myself that I just need to focus and always do my best and face my fears because if I start fearing, I will start making mistakes so that is what I did”.
“I stayed so many days without training with the team because I was injured and worried about my place, but they helped me and I appreciated the club because they have done a lot for me over the past few days that I have been there”.
“Even the day I played the first game I was so relaxed. So, when I went in, I was even telling my friends that I feel like I am in the first eleven even though I came in as a super sub”, she added.
“I do however need to be focused on football and forget about the transfers and everything because it has happened. Now it is time for someone else to break that record. Maybe it will be me again or maybe it will be another person so that is the way forward”.
Alongside that pressure is an uphill task for her side she participated in the last edition of the Olympics in Tokyo to go again this year, as they face a Moroccan team that is on the rise as she will be leading the Copper Queens’ attack.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.cm
