Green Buffaloes Women and Copper Queens striker-turned-defender Racheal Nachula has set 2028 as the year she intends to retire from playing football, as she hopes to remain in the game by moving into coaching.
The 40-year-old who has previously played in China and Israel has spent more than 15 years in football, says her ambition after hanging up her boots is to join the technical bench and help develop other players.
“I will retire in 2028,” she revealed, while explaining that she remains focused on helping Green Buffaloes Women win the ZPL Women Super Division Championship this season.
The defender’s sporting journey began in football before she switched to athletics. However, she returned to the beautiful game in 2012, saying her connection to football never disappeared.
“I started sports as a footballer and then I switched to athletics and then in 2012 I switched back to football. So for me football has been in me throughout,” she said.
Nachula believes her experience and age have also given her an important leadership role, particularly in guiding younger players at club and national team level.
“A good part of being the oldest player here at the club and at the national level is everyone is able to listen to me and I’m able to encourage each and everyone,” she said.
She also credited coach Charles Haalubono for playing a significant role in her development, saying his belief in her abilities has helped her continue competing despite her age.
“Coach Charles has done everything, everything for me to be called the way they call me,” Nachula said.
“His coachings, he has been pushing us to say, even if you are 40, you can still do it,” she said.
Nachula urged young footballers to take discipline seriously if they want to enjoy long careers, warning that certain social activities and behaviours can undermine their progress.
“Social media can build you and also at the same time can destroy you. I’ll give an example about me. Social media, they say a lot of things about me. I do watch, but I don’t comment,” she said.
Away from her personal ambitions, Nachula remains determined to help Green Buffaloes secure the league title this season.
“I want this team to be crowned champions. This season, that’s my target, and that’s our target as a team,” she said.
Looking beyond her playing career, she cited former teammate and current coach Carol Kanyemba as an example of the transition she hopes to make.
Nachula said she was proud to be coached by Kanyemba, with whom she previously played, and hopes to follow a similar path into the technical area.
“My fellow player back in those days, now she’s my very good coach, and I hope I can join her someday,” she said.
