Defender strikes out

Few sportsmen have made it to the top, and even fewer have stayed at the top of their games. This week the Economist caught up with local female football star, 24 year old Nangula Amukwaya, the National Woman Football Team defender.
Amukwaya started her football career at the tender age of nine and has since been hooked to kicking and fending off her opponents from scoring.
“As a young girl in Ongwediva, I used to follow my brother to all his football games. And his friends would tease me but I kept following him and eventually I learned a few tricks from him.”
She said, “I never gave up on football because this is where I express who I am and where I fit best. This is where I can just be me. Football to me is like a hobby, if I look at it like a career, then Id play under pressure so I do it for fun above anything else.”
A clearly passionate and dedicated footballer, Amukwaya said she played football throughout her schooling career and went on to play for the UNAM Bokkies where she was spotted by well known Brave Gladiators Coach, Jacky Shipanga.
Amukwaya was named the best defender in the second round of the woman super league after an impressive performance and was also last year appointed to the national women team, the Brave Gladiators.
She has played in various matches including continental games against Tanzania and international tournaments against Germany.
Amukwaya said that this exposure has helped her grow as a footballer and is looking to a bright future in the football fraternity.
The third year tourism student at UNAM added that she will keep on playing football for many years to come.