Women Football: Revitalized Zaina Namuleme Speaks Out On Her New Playing Position at KQ
Many in women football thought the magician Zaina Namuleme retired from the beautiful game at an early age.
For starters, Zaina Namuleme came to scene when she helped Gadaffi Intergrated Academy to shine in schools football between the years of 2016 and 2018 and the Kampala Queens, she also penetrated to National team the Crested Cranes, she was among the starters by then and many football fanatics wanted much to watch because of her speed and style of play from both wings.
No doubt the girl had talent but in 2018/19 season, she got an injury, surely few got to know how she got healed of the injury because the following years, that is 2020 and 2021 we were in Covid era and football was less in the country.
First forward, the 2021/22 season Zaina bounced back to football scene, got a Captain’s armband at Kampala Queens under the stewardship of the new coach in Hamza Lutalo, this followed the departure of their former captain, Fauzia Najjemba who left to Kazakhstan for professional football.
We all thought that the captain will resume football in her usual forward positions but to our surprise, the found her in the middle of the park, giving the club’s back four a good cover and her current leadership skills are undoubted.
“I might say, playing in deep six, the position have never played before, it has a bit affected me but again, a coach putting you in a certain position, he must be with a reason why.” Zaina Namuleme in an exclusive Interview with this website.
“Yes I miss the things I was doing while upfront, but according to the players we had, many were injured so, coach saw that I am a person who can play that position better than the other available ones, and I thank him that he has helped me to perfect this number, I don’t do it alone but as a team and the help of the coach because what I do at the pitch, coach trains it at the training, only we come in the match to perfect and execute what we got. “
About her going in sabbatical for almost two years, Zaina had this to comment.
“Many people thought that I have retired from football but as a person, I couldn’t, because football has been there for me, I just got lost because I had some issues I was finishing, I had University education. but again I was there training hard, such that by the time of return, I would be at per with the others.” Zaina Namuleme.
” Remember at the start we had many forward players, and other positions were lacking, as a coach I had to find ways how to have them on pitch, the good thing, they are fast learners. Zaina is now doing good, and playing different positions, it helps her as a player because if I leave tomorrow, the other coach can use her in that position because she has perfected it, she has good leadership and she commands the team well.” Said Kampala Queens FC tactician, Hamza Lutalo.
Currently, Zaina Namuleme is among the good defensive midfielders the super league has this season but when ask about whether she again will be comfortable in that position if summoned at the national team, because CECAFA Women’s Senior Championship and AWCON are around the corner, Zaina had no comment.
Against Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, Zaina Namuleme was among the scorers as her side beat the Valley Warriors 4-3 at Kawempe Muslim SS Ground.