From playing soccer on the dirt in Zambia to playing in the Bay Area, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji has been breaking barriers on and off the field.
In February 2024, Kundananji signed with Bay FC and became the first Zambian to play and score in the National Women’s Soccer League on March 30th. Since then, Kundananji has played 16 matches, recorded three goals and two assists, and represented her country at the World Cup in Paris.
Looking to empower young girls in Zambia and worldwide through sports, Kundananji launched the Racheal Kundananji Foundation on July 10, 2024.
“Maybe I should do something which can help a lot of young girls,” Kundananji said.
The foundation’s mission is to make sure every girl has the chance to play the sport Kundananji grew up playing. Kundananji says that in the future she would love to provide the chance for young players from Zambia or any other African countries to do trails in Europe.
“For now, it’s just donating stuff; soccer shoes, training equipment, soccer jerseys to those teams from different communities,” Kundananji said.
Kundananji’s advice for aspiring young girls is to not give up and to work hard.
“Compete with yourself and know what you want because if you try to compete with other people, then you lose what you want, instead of chasing other people’s dreams and your dreams will never be fulfilled,” Kundananji said.
To get more involved visit, https://rkundananjifoundation.org/.
Watch Racheal Kundananji take on fellow Zambian international Barbra Banda and Orlando Pride at PayPal Park on Friday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online here.
