By: Evalyn Nzilani Mulinge
I believe in Equal Opportunity
“I thank QSS for holding the annual QSS Sportfest again after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic, and for allowing me to play with my all-boys team. Neither my team members nor the other teams’ players made me feel different. We were all players of equal opportunity to showcase our talent”.
Growing up in the neighborhood of Mombasa, Kenya, I had a strong passion for playing football from the age of seven. Instead of playing dolls with girls, I was always in our compound playing football with boys. While our neighbors went on wondering and picking on me playing with boys, my parents did not mind watching. Thank God, I was blessed with a very supportive mother.
My love for the game even led me to play with boys during recess at school. Thank goodness the school established the Girls' Football League in 1995. I discovered that there were other females who had the same interest as I did, and we were all trained by various coaches. The name of our group was Mombasa Railways F.C. We practiced from Monday through Friday and on weekends while the school was open.
1997 became the deepest heartbreak of my life for me. I was fourteen years old when my mother passed away. I prayed to God for his protection and guidance. Some people might think this is strange, but I made a commitment to myself that football would be my life and my boyfriend since I did not want to get sidetracked and distracted from going further.
In 1998, God sent me a guardian angel. One man who used to play in the same club as me recognized my talent and did not hesitate to help me. I started training under him twice a day. He would wake me up at 6:00 AM and train me until 8:00 AM. He would tell me to come in as early as 2:00 PM even though our school team's practice did not begin until 3:00 PM so he could work with me before the team coaches showed up. I received encouragement and support from a number of other kind people apart from him.
I played for Mombasa Railways from 1995 to 2002. During that time, we won a number of trophies at competitions held in several countries.
In 2002, just as my football career was starting to take off, my sister passed away. I had reached the point when I felt I had no more need for Mombasa and had no reason to stay. In order to embark on a new path, I chose to relocate to Nairobi in 2003. There, I joined the Ministry of Sports team Minicuss/Moyas, where I played until 2012. Unfortunately, my work schedule prevented me from continuing to play. I had a difficult time making the choice because football was my all-time favorite sport.
Ten years later, I got lucky to be granted the chance to return to the pitch and play football once again in Qatar. I appreciate QSS for resuming the annual QSS Sportfest which had to be stopped since the pandemic and for letting me participate with my all-boys team. I did not feel any different from all players and it helped a lot to get cheered from everyone. We all had an equal opportunity to play and show off our skills.
I am hoping that QSS will continue to hold the sports fest every year as this gives employees the chance to do what they do best outside the workplace. Sports is one activity that draws people together.
I want to let everyone know that, if you have the talent, you should acknowledge that God gave it to you. Utilize that gift and cultivate it with discipline. No matter how talented you are, you will never succeed without discipline and control. Everyone needs a mentor in their life. Choose those who will encourage you to reach higher and farther without having any personal stake in your success, and never forget to thank them whether you achieve success or not in the future. And lastly, our strength does not come from our gender, rather, it comes from within. If you have a passion for something, you should not entertain negativity.
Growing up in the Philippines, Basketball has always been our most popular sport and I have always been a very competitive fighter in whatever area I'm in, may it be Basketball or work so to see someone share their story about sports and how they're fighting to win with this God Given talent is just heartwarming and inspiring to read. Keep hitting that GOAL.
Perseverance and the will to never give up is the keys to success no matter what field you're in. Football feild, office field, business field... And, any other fields. Be someone who'll always strive for greatness no matter where you are. Congrats on your journey!
Her story is so amazing! Keep fighting! Keep chasing your dreams.
Amazing story. Congratulations on the results of your heartfelt struggles. Keep on moving ahead.
Sports is a wonderful thing. It helps us maintain a healthy body and can be also a source of happiness. Amazing story.
Football is also a sport that I enjoy so seeing someone so passionate about it makes me happy. Keep forging forward.
You have a wonderful story to tell. Never stop following your dreams. Keep leaping and kicking forward.
This is honestly making me cry. The struggles to get where she is now. You are an amazing person. Keep doing what you do best!
This is so inspiring! Don't ever lose track of your passion. Always commit to it fully with a warm heart.
Highlighting her God-given talents and the blessings of opportunity she received. It's inspiring to see how she overcame gender barriers in sports, proving that talent and sportsmanship know no gender boundaries. Her dedication to training and her unwavering passion are deserves praise. Her story teaches us the importance of mentors, gratitude, and the inner strength that comes from pursuing our passions. Such gift and opportunity, it's a powerful reminder that with discipline and determination, anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of their gender.
Words will never fully explain just how proud I am of who you have turned out to be today. Good job and, keep it up.
Inspiring! Two important lessons here:
1. The opportunity will always be there so we need to keep nurturing our passion in whatever means available, so that once the big break comes, we remain good at what we do.
2. It is okay to look or seem different among the crowd; in fact, that’s how you will stand out.
What an inspiring story. Hoping for your continued success. Never let negativity eat you alive. Everyone is equal so if you can do it then, all of us can as well. If one person can put in hard work and passion to something then, others should be able to as well. It is not a matter of "can't" it's more like "want" or "don't want". The sky is the limit so go for it until you succeed. Never give up.
Amazing story! Truly brings tears to my eyes to see her struggles to greatness. We should always chase positivity and greatness for negativity only brings us down. It's not worth it to sulk and cry. Work hard with passion and you will surely reach what it is you desire.
Yes. That is true. If you have talent then acknowledge that as a gift from The One Above. He gave you the talent to pursue what you want and I believe that it is up to you to put in the hard work behind it.
Football is a beautiful sport. It really is amazing seeing people play it. So for me, seeing someone play the game passionately melts my heart. And, to add the discipline behind is just more amazing. Congratulations and continue your path towards greatness.
What a wonderful journey, this was. I felt her passion for the sport that she loves and her struggles through the years. Never giving up, pushing yourself but also having discipline is what makes a great person. Giving it all but with grace is what makes a kind person. I believe that we should all have that moral code inside of us. Discipline, wisdom and, virtue. We should all ground ourselves to those three no matter how far we're pushing ourselves.