Kazakstan-based Zambia midfielder Prisca Chilufya has told BOLA NEWS that she was depressed and thought of quitting football after being left out of the Zambia Women’s national team that went to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games and 2022 Morocco Women’s Africa Cup because of the gender eligibility rules which barred her from participating in the two competition as she felt discriminated against.
WHY HAS PRISCA CHILUFYA BEEN ABSENT FROM THE COPPER QUEENS SQUAD?
Chilufya did not feature at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was among the players who were ruled out of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of nations due to high testosterone levels which according to the Football Association of Zambia did not allow the player to be part of the competition as she did not meet the gender eligibility requirements set by the tournament organizers CAF, a thing which she describes as “disturbing.”
“The talk of eligibility is really sad for all us but I think I have experienced the worst out of it because it came at a wrong time; at a time that I needed to prove myself to the world at the Olympics that there is this player from Zambia. I missed the Olympics because of the same issue and it was very disturbing for me, I was depressed and thought of quitting football,” Chilufya told Bola News.
“I didn’t have anyone to encourage me, I learned to be strong and overcame it on my own. It’s a turn-off because some people even make fun of it instead of showing us support but I am strong now and happy.”
Other players that were affected by the gender eligibility rules included Racheal Kundanji who plies her trade at Spanish side Madrid CFF, Racheal Nachula from Zaragoza CFF in Spain and skipper Barbra Banda who were all disqualified from participating at the previous at the tournament.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHILUFYA ?
The 23-year-old who plays for FC Tomiris-Turan has finally been recalled to the National team by coach Bruce Mwape for the October 6 friendly match against the Netherlands since 2020.
Her call-up comes a month after she scored a double hattrick (6 goals) in a single match and also provided two assists in the same match for the Tomiris side that thrashed Sdyusshor17 10-0 in the Kazakstan league.
Reacting to the news, Chilufya says she is very grateful to the coach and the technical bench for the second chance given to her to represent the Zambian colours.
“I won’t take this chance for granted, definitely I have to deliver and do my best and I am grateful to the coach and technical staff for the recognition, I am thankful to them for giving me a second chance.
“I believe this is my chance to prove myself, maybe God prepared the second chance for me so I just have to prove to the coaches that I am grateful by doing my best and doing what they want to see on the pitch,” said Chilufya.
CHILUFYA IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT COPPER QUEENS RETURN
Having last played for Zambia in 2020 at the COSAFA tournament Chilufya says, she hopes her return will add value to the FIFA World Cup bound Copper Queens squad as she is looking to get more call ups in the future.
“I hope to bring in my best by scoring and creating chances for the team which already has very good players in all the departments, so for me I just want to do my best and prove that I deserve the call up by proving to the technical bench and the fans that I deserve to be part of the national team.”
Chilufya only has seven caps for Zambia and only scored once against Lesotho at the 2020 COSAFA tournament but the enterprising midfielder has since scored a total of 50 goals in the last two years in Europe for Tomiris and Bilk Kazgurt which includes 4 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
She will look to prove a earn a permanet place in the National team and hope to make a cut in the final squad for the FIFA world cup set to start next year in July in Austrilia and New Zealand.
