Samkelisiwe Zulu owes it all to Trust Kwembeya

22 May, 2016 - 00:05 0 Views
Samkelisiwe Zulu owes it all to Trust Kwembeya Samukelisiwe Zulu

The Sunday News

Samukelisiwe Zulu

Samukelisiwe Zulu

Nqgwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FLAME LILY striker Samukelisiwe Zulu never imagined herself playing football at the top level as she had to do so after being “dragged” into the game by Inline Girls Soccer Academy officials who identified her when she was still at Fusi Primary School in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo.

The Mighty Warriors’ striker, however, now has her name inked in history as she is part of the national team that made the historic feat of qualifying for the Olympic Games as well as the African Women Cup of Nations.

The striker is still ecstatic after being one of the scorers during the final qualifier for the continental tourney when Zimbabwe beat Zambia 3-2 in Lusaka last month.

Zulu said she was overjoyed with putting her name on the score sheet but she is not letting the success get to her head and remains grounded knowing there is still a lot of work to be done.

“I was over the moon after we won that match (against Zambia) knowing I was one of those who scored, but football is all about team effort and I know all my other mates played their roles well for us to win that game and qualify for Afcon,” Zulu said.

The quiet and unassuming forward joined her school’s football team as a way of having a genuine excuse to avoid doing chores at home and although she thought nothing of her talent in the sport.

And when Inline Academy spotted her at a schools tournament, that began a fruitful career that continues to blossom.

While Zulu initially attended the team’s training sessions, as someone who is reticent, she found the environment intimidating and stopped going for training in frustration. However, Inline could not let go of their new found “gem”.

Trust Kwembeya, one of the Inline directors paid a visit to her late grandmother’s home requesting that she returns to training.

The rest as they say is history.

“I was staying with my grandmother at the time and after absconding training Kwembeya came home and convinced her (grandmother) that I was gifted and had a future in the game and after that she urged me to comply saying there could be good things in store for me and that was the beginning of my football career,” said Zulu.

Zulu started playing a prominent role at Inline securing a first team place in 2010. She established herself as a top notch striker as the club dominated the then regional league and caught the eye of the then Mighty Warriors coach, Rose Mugadza who called her for national duty.

The 26-year-old says the game made a big impact in her life as she managed to secure a job because of her talent.

After assisting Inline take second position in the Women Super League in 2012, she attracted interest from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services teams, who raced for her signature and it was the latter who quickly snapped her up.

Zulu was offered a job at ZPCS in 2013 and her main duty is to play for their football outfit, Flame Lily.

“It was a dream move for me because it meant I would start earning financially because of football. It is unfortunate our game does not pay financially but I thank God for giving me that opportunity.

“It made a big difference although Inline were reluctant to let me go but after talks they understood it was a great opportunity for me,” said Zulu, proudly a prison officer stationed at Chikurubi.

Zulu said the Mighty Warriors would be going to the Rio Olympics in August to compete and are unfazed about the top teams they would be coming up against who include Germany, Australia and Canada.

She was adamant that they would be in Brazil not just to add numbers but to make a huge impact. Zulu, just like her colleagues feels that there is little recognition for the Mighty Warriors’ history making feat adding had it been their male counterparts they would have been pampered and showered with numerous gifts both financially and otherwise.

Zulu, who lost both her parents, was raised in Magwegwe North and attended Fusi Primary and Masotsha High Schools and is the only one in her family to take up the sport although her younger sister, Ottilia once played football, but left because of lack of financial gain.

“My young sister once played football but because of lack of financial rewards she left for South Africa but after our success in qualifying for Rio, she showed some signs of regret, wishing she had held on,” says Zulu.

Zulu, who stays in Mabvuku in Harare, said self-discipline both in and outside the field of play, had assisted her in reaching the dizzy heights in the game.

She urged young girls aiming for success in the game to clearly set out their goals and strive to achieve if they were going to make it.

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