Striker Turned Midfielder: The Transforming Journey Of Nakanjako Immaculate

By: Uwizera Plan 

While analyzing the current performance of Uganda Martyrs WFC at the half mark of the 2022/23 FUFA Women’s Super League season, there is a section that needs a lot of praise for the great work exhibited.

That’s the midfield, as it has played a pivotal role of not just assisting but also goal scoring in the team.

The Lubaga-based side’s midfield, that comprises of Kevin Nakacwa, Shamusa Najjuma, Sumaya Nalumu and Nakanjako Immaculate, has recorded seven goals and four assists, hence creating a direct impact on team’s performance thus far.

Of recent, the midfield at the club has been dominated by Kevin Nakacwa. However, to her, more strength has been added in the department by another fast, hard battling lady, that is, Nakanjako Immaculate.

Immaculate, who joined Uganda Martyrs from Gayaza Church of Uganda Primary School, first found it hard to get into the starting lineups, and had to patiently wait for her turn for almost three good years.

However, when she was presented with the chance to make her mark on the team, she indeed proved to be of great importance in the midfield of the team.

Immaculate is not a player who is known for scoring goals but she has filled the gaps and brought more strength in the Uganda Martyrs midfield, and, as many say, she would make you think that midfield is an easy place to play in.

Immaculate, who joined the school (Uganda Martyrs) in 2018 as a striker, never dreamt that she would one day play as a midfielder, not until she was first introduced into the striking line for the team.

By then, the striking line for Uganda Martyrs had the likes of Anita Namata, Spencer Nakacwa, Elizabeth Nakigozi and Brenda Muyana.

In terms of experience, all these players looked much better than Immaculate, a fact that she feared would keep her out of the team, and she thus opted to diversify and go into the midfield, where she thought she would get enough playing time, and indeed, she has benefited from that decision.

“When I joined Uganda Martyrs Senior School, I was a striker where I was (in primary). So, when I was introduced into the team, especally the forward line, the truth is I feared competition and I decided to go to the midfield because it had some fair players, not like the striking line,” Immaculate said.

Immaculate added that even when she joined the midfield, it was not that easy to penetrate into the first team since it also had some of the best players like Kevin Nakacwa, Esther Naluyimba among others.

“It took me some good three years to enter into the first team when some senior players started leaving the team and some players got injuries. That is where I got the chance to play and since then, I got into the team and [started] playing my best to achieve the [good] results for the team,” Immaculate noted.

Unlike other girls who start their football journey at a much higher age in Uganda, Immaculate’s journey sounds quite different as she got introduced to football at quite a young age, inspired and supported by her family members. She has thus kept on pushing and playing football at different levels.

She also advises parents to always support and stand with their kids who have different talents since there is life after education.

“If it wasn’t for my family members, I would be nowhere in football. They have kept on pushing me and supporting me in every condition,” Immaculate said.

“I therefore urge all other parents to support their kids, especally girls who play and have love for football, because nowdays, football is a career that is helping people earn a living,” she added.