“Racheal Kundananji feels the pressure of being the most expensive female footballer in the world.”

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The spotlight is on Racheal Kundananji and she is not shying away from it. The 23-year-old Zambian striker made headlines last month as the most expensive female player ever after signing with Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $788,000 (£620,000). It is a significant accomplishment.

“I am under immense pressure due to the record-breaking transfer fee, but I need to stay calm, concentrate on my job, and keep playing football,” the forward shares with the Guardian while in Ndola.

“This is only the start, not the conclusion. Fans have high expectations and opponents won’t be easy on me. This is why there is immense pressure.”

The National Women’s Soccer League expansion side Bay City, based in the Californian state capital of San Jose, are co-founded by four USA women’s national team legends – Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton and Leslie Osborne, in partnership with the global investment firm Sixth Street. They will play their first NWSL game against Angel City in Los Angeles on 16 March.

Kundananji, a previous middle-distance runner for 800m and 1500m, has faced challenges and gained wisdom throughout her journey to success. Coming from a family of five, she was raised by a resilient mother.

“I began my journey in football playing with the neighborhood boys, especially after school,” she recalls. “There was a club called Mufulira Blackpool in Zambia’s Copperbelt region, where I, along with Bwalya Kalusha, the 1988 African Footballer of the Year, came from. They organized teams, and I was a part of one of them.”

Whenever I engage in a game of football, I always find enjoyment in it. Football holds a significant place in my life and I am able to play for hours on end. During my childhood, my family was strict and my mother did not tolerate any misbehavior. As I got older, she became aware of my frequent involvement in football. Initially, she believed I was simply having fun with my friends, unaware of our makeshift ball made from plastic bags. However, she eventually discovered my passion for the sport when I began playing on a nearby small field. To her relief, my dedication to football kept me out of trouble.

Kundananji’s club career ascent began in 2018 with the Ndola-based Indeni Roses, who signed her after seeing her play for Konkola Blades in Chililabombwe, her hometown. In 2019 she took a huge step into the unknown by signing for the Kazakhstani side BIIK Kazygurt, who were playing in the Champions League at the time.

As an African, the chance to leave the continent was appealing to her. Though it may not have seemed realistic at first, she knew she had to start somewhere. When she learned they were part of the Champions League, her ultimate goal, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

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Participating in Europe’s premier tournament did not improve the living conditions in Kazakhstan, as she was one of the few African players in the nation. “I resided in Shymkent, a small city, for three years. I can attest that it was not very welcoming for individuals like myself. Black individuals are not prevalent there. When they encounter black individuals on the streets, the experience is quite distinct from other European cities and countries.”

For her, the unpleasant treatment did not distract her from the challenge of establishing her European club career. “A soldier is always a soldier. A soldier will always survive in any situation,” she says with a smile. “When you know what you want, you have to learn to cope with things. I wanted to go to a bigger league so I just had to endure everything and use this small opportunity [to create a chance for myself]. To get good things, you have to face a lot of challenges.”

Kundananji did not hesitate to accept the offer from Spanish team Eibar, despite receiving a higher salary offer from Kazygurt to stay in Kazakhstan. She explains, “I made the decision to leave everything behind and go there. My club offered me four times my current salary, and even increased it to five times, but I still said no. My goal was to play in Spain, to compete with the top players, and have a challenge to score in a competitive league.”

In the summer of 2022, she relocated from Eibar to Madrid CFF and had an impressive first season, scoring 25 goals in 23 games. This caught the attention of Bay City, who set a world-record fee to sign her. She credits her success to the support and teamwork of her fellow players, coaches, and fans. The team felt like a family and she thoroughly enjoyed her time there.

Now, her attention shifts to San Jose where she hopes to make a mark in American football, a place she had not visited before signing her new contract. “I am not putting pressure on myself. I am approaching my time in the United States as if it’s not my first time… Our generation has been chosen and we can expect even more records to be shattered. We will prove that there is immense talent in Africa.”

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Source: theguardian.com