Jane Mutambo is a 20-year-old professional soccer player and mother to a 4-year-old boy. Since 2010 she plays in the “Women’s red arrows football club”, which is the team of the Zambian air forces. She also plays for the Zambian female national soccer team. She trains three times per week in the capital, Lusaka. We meet on a Sunday morning on a veranda in Kafue, her hometown. She is shy, yet smiles with her whole body. She is excited to be here to talk with me about sport and her life: her look, while she shows me pictures of herself in the Zambian national team, is full of humble and joyful pride.
When and why did you start to play soccer?
As a child I used to watch foreign leagues’ soccer matches on television; that is how I developed a strong interest and passion for soccer. When I was 12 I joined a local female soccer team. I was the youngest girl in the team, so during the trainings the coach would take me out of the group and teach me individually the basics of soccer. I enjoyed it very much from the beginning and have never lost the passion since; by the time I was 14 I was a good mid-field player and did not have any problem shining even when we merged with a boy team to play as a mixed team. At 15 I won my first tournament in Monze with the mixed team. I still remember how happy I was!
What happened afterwards?
Just after we won the Monze tournament I decided, following the suggestion of coach Mwansa, to become a goalkeeper: I took up the new challenge enthusiastically and very soon I got brilliant results. Only months later I was selected to play in both the Under 17 and Under 20 female national soccer teams. With these two teams I travelled to Ghana and South Africa for the qualifying matches for the World Cup: we did not qualify, yet I was called “Best goalkeeper” in both categories.
The following year, at 16, I became the goalkeeper of the senior national team; we played in Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe, until I got pregnant and had to stop.
Did you end your career then?
Not at all! Well, actually, I was about to.
What do you mean?
It was a very tough time for me. I was only 16 and playing soccer in the national team was a dream come true and a great opportunity to develop myself. I faced a very difficult decision: was I going to become a mother, or would I keep pursuing my dream of playing soccer professionally? Many people had their own opinion about what I was supposed to do, but I felt I did not want to exclude one option by choosing the other. I wanted to keep my child and keep playing soccer. During this time my coach Mr. Mwansa was extremely supportive and helped me keep my determination in going back to soccer after my son was born. Being an athlete had taught me that efforts are worth when you have a dream, and that the achievement of your goals is an unmatchable rewarding experience; so there I was, training again on the football pitch just 3 months after delivering my first child!
Jane smiles to me with a most proud look, and continues:
Going back to training was hard and exciting at the same time. Very often, I carried my son with me to the matches, and the coach would take care of him. Not only did I manage to resume my career as a soccer player by being selected – again! – to play for the national team, but I was also awarded a scholarship at Naboye secondary school to complete my education! All of this, of course, while raising my child!
You seem to embody the motto of our upcoming activity. Have you heard about the “Never Give Up” 2012 tournament that SPORT2BUILD is organizing in several areas of Kafue district?
Of course! I am always updated about what happens in my hometown and I am very happy to hear that many teams have already shown interest in participating in the tournament organized by SPORT2BUILD. It is a great thing for our youngsters: kids can watch their friends play and get inspired to begin themselves. Sport is not only good for keeping a healthy lifestyle and a fit body, there is so much more to it. In many areas around here there are very few activities for boys and girls, so they often end up wandering around on the streets. Being part of a team, making efforts to achieve a goal, improving oneself and interacting with other people are some of the lessons that children learn from soccer. I also hope that “Never Give Up” turns out to be a chance for some children to be offered scholarships by schools in the area. I have something to say to all the girls that will participate in the tournament: whatever your goal is, go for it!
Well, Jane, you have achieved a lot in your young life! You must be very proud of yourself.
I am, indeed. But I am still young and have dreams: I want to become a professional player abroad and I want to get a scholarship to study at college.
Good luck Jane! Your determination and your passion will take you far in life! One last thing: may I have a picture with a great athlete? Yes Jane, I am talking about you!
Michelangelo Dall’Ora