Brave Gladiators midfielder-cum-strilker Zenatha Coleman took centre stage with some brilliant performances at the African Women Championship in Windhoek in October last year.
Playing against some of Africa’s top sides, like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, Coleman displayed some great skills that had the huge crowds cheering on enthusiastically. Although Namibia failed to progress past the first round, she was one of the stars of the show and was subsequently nominated as one of the five finalists for the Africa Women Footballer of the Year award. Last week she once again starred for the Brave Gladiators, scoring a goal in their 6-2 victory against Swaziland, while she will go on trial with a Swedish club in July with the hope of signing professional terms. Helge Schutz of the Namibian Sport spoke to Coleman about her career and dreams as a soccer player.
How did your soccer career start?
I started playing soccer at the age of nine when I played with my uncles in the streets of Tseiblaagte where I grew up.
My grandfather encouraged me and said I must continue playing football. Then when I went to Kronlein Primary School I started playing for the boys U11 team and I loved football from the start. We won the Boys U11 schools league as well as the U13 league twice.
Then I went to JA Nel Secondary School but at first I played for a club team, Mountain Rangers. We played a game against my school and the school principal and all of the children were there. We won that game 5-1 and I scored almost every goal. The next morning they called me in and said I mustn’t play for the club, I must play for the school team, so then I joined the school team.
I joined JA Nel’s girls team but we didn’t do very well. The team wasn’t that good and I was the only player who stood out so we struggled a bit.
How did your national career start?
The national coach Jacqueline Shipanga saw me play the first time when I represented the Karas region at a national tournament in Windhoek. I was only 13 years old but I was the top goalscorer of the tournament so she invited me to come and stay with her aunt in Windhoek. I was also called up to the national squad although I didn’t play at first, I was just part of the training group.
I first played for Namibia U17 at the Ball Games in 2008 where I was the top goalscorer and then in 2010 I was called up to the Namibia U20 team. I made my debut for the senior team against Angola at the age of 17 and since then I’ve been a regular member of the national team.
How was the Africa Women Championship?
It was a great experience for me. The crowds were fantastic, the whole tournament was just fantastic. The first game against Zambia we did great and won the match 2-0. But the second one against the Ivory Coast was very disappointing because we conceded two late goals and lost 3-1. Then the last game we had to win against Nigeria but I don’t know what happened. I think we could have won the match, we created some chances but we didn’t make use of them and lost 2-0.
How did you feel when you were selected as one of the finalists for the Africa Women Player of the Year?
It was a big surprise to me. At first I didn’t know about it but then one guy on Facebook congratulated me, saying I’m a finalist for the African player of the year and I couldn’t believe it. Then I checked on the website and saw my name there up against players like Portia Modise, Asisat Ashoala and Desiree Oparanozie. It was a great shock to see my name on that list, but it was also a fantastic feeling.
You have been invited for trials with a Swedish club in July. Do you think you can make the grade as a professional player?
It’s a great opportunity for me so I have to grab it with both hands. I think I will succeed there – the players are quite physical but I’ll go to the gym to build up my strength.
Birthdate:
25 September 1993
Birthplace:
Tseiblaagte, Keetmanshoop
Schools:
Kronlein Primary and JA Nel Secondary School.
Who inspired you when you were young?
Ronaldinho was my favourite player, he had a lot of skills and I watched most of his matches on TV. Later I started following Neymar and now I like watching him play.
Favourite Namibian team?
Tigers
Image Isaack – he plays a bit like me.
Favourite International team?
Chelsea
