Zambian forward Rachael Kundananji was named the Revelation of the Year at MARCA’s 2022–23 women’s sports awards during a gala in Madrid on Thursday.
The striker announced herself to Spanish football last season after scoring 25 goals in the Liga F for Madrid CFF. That tally was only second to Liga Femeni Golden Boot winner Alba Redondo, who scored on 28 occasions last term.
Kundananji took to her social media on Thursday after securing the accolade that recognizes the player who went from relatively unknown to a household name in the space of one season.
Courtesy of her official Facebook page, the forward wrote, “Grateful to have been awarded the Revelation Player Award at the MARCA 2023 awards. It’s an honour to be among the few recognized.”
The 23-year-old has been a force to be reckoned with for club and country in the last 18 months, having scored 33 goals last season. And she has picked up where she left off last term, scoring five goals in six games to top the 2023–24 Liga F scoring chart.
Her form for the national team hasn’t been different either. The striker has already bagged a hat-trick for the Copper Queens this season in Zambia’s 6-2 decimation of 2022 WAFCON finalists Morocco.
More winners at MARCA’s 2022–23 women’s sports awards
Meanwhile, the Spanish women’s national team was named MARCA’s Best Team of the Year following their maiden FIFA World Cup triumph. Barcelona Femeni gaffer Jonathan Giráldez secured the Best Manager of the Year award after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League last season.
Real Madrid duo Caroline Weir and Caroline Moller walked away with the Best Player and goal of the Season awards, respectively. On the other hand, the Pichichi trophy, which is awarded to the Spanish League’s top scorer, was given to Levante UD’s Alba Redondo.
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Additionally, Real Madrid shot-stopper Misa Rodriguez was awarded the Zamora Trophy for her performances between the sticks last term.
