Retired Banyana star opens up on challenges she faced in Europe
A retired Banyana Banyana star has opened up on the challenges she faced during her five-year stint in Europe.
Like most of the other African players who ply their trades in Europe, face several challenges along the way.
But despite going through the hardships, the player was determined to make it against all odds.
Motivated by her love for the beautiful game and driven by her passion, the player went all out to become one of the finest footballers in the country.
The player in question is none other than Ode Fulutudilu, who hung up her boots in July 2023 at the age of 33. In Europe, Fulutudilu had the opportunity to play in countries such as Finland, Spain, Scotland, and France.
Some of the notable clubs she represented overseas are Malanga, Glasgow City, Real Betis, Aland United, to mention a few.
Given the stellar performances of the talented retired goal poacher abroad, earned her debut for Banyana in 2014 and was a member of the squad that participated in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in France.
Fulutudilu has come forward to reveal some of the major challenges she faced in her five years overseas.
FULUTUDILU: THE ONLY BLACK PLAYER IN THE TEAM
Being the only black girl on the team is one of the challenges the former Banyana forward had to go through.
“One significant challenge was being the only black girl on the team. It’s hard to convey this situation if you’ve never been the sole person of colour in an environment,” said Fulutudilu.
“Standing out in a town where you’re the only black person can lead to odd stares, and your teammates might not be accustomed to diversity.
“Being misunderstood was a common occurrence. Mannerisms that felt normal to me were sometimes misinterpreted in an environment unfamiliar with people like me.”
Fulutudilu continued: “It’s not about anything being inherently wrong, but it’s more about the adjustment period for everyone involved.”
FULUTUDILE SAYS LANGUAGE BARRIER WAS A CHALLENGE
The 33-year-old went on to divulge that the language barrier was another challenging factor during her football career abroad.
“Another hurdle was when English wasn’t the primary language spoken on the team. Communicating during training became challenging, and understanding team jokes was a struggle,” she stated.
“Translations often diluted the humour, leaving me out of the loop. Trying to grasp training sessions and objectives was a bit messy, relying on observation and mimicking my teammates. This disconnected me from the team and the sessions.
“Off the field building relationships was non-existent because most players never spoke English so we could not build any relationships outside the field. I left those teams without anyone really knowing me as a person but only as a player. This lack of relationship most times transferred to the field of play as we could not relate to each other on the field.”
THE EX-BANYANA ON THE LONELINESS CHALLENGE
Fulutudilu further stated that loneliness in her professional football journey overseas is one of the challenges that took its toll on her.
“Loneliness is an unexpected companion in the life of a professional football player. Even with the privilege of being married, the distance between my husband and me, especially when he was in Holland, brought its own sense of isolation,” revealed Fulutudilu.
“Many players, both men and women, live their dreams but experience profound loneliness. Without someone to share the journey, the excitement of being a professional football player eventually fades, leaving a void that football alone can’t fill.
“Consider my experience as a married player, now imagine the greater challenge for those without partners or companions. Loneliness becomes a significant aspect that players need to be aware of, as the thrill of the game subsides. Life demands more than just football.”
RELATED STORY: Why Ode Fulutudilu has no desire to play in SA’s Women’s League