Malabo’s Salome Nke - A natural born captain
Captain Salome Nke Noah Ghyslaine led her team Malabo Kings to their first TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League win over Wadi Degla.
Being the Equatoguinean team “Captain”, she carries the title with its every meaning, and is not new to this responsibility.
“I’ve been team captain for three years, since this team was established, and I’m also the national team’s captain. I’ve been a team captain for each team I played for, but it’s always due to my teammates’ efforts that I make it work,” Salome told CAFOnline.com.
Salome had a strong relationship with football since childhood. “Football runs in the family as my father was a goalkeeper. I used to play with boys in the neighborhood as there was no such thing as girls playing football. In the year 2004, I started realizing that there are girls football teams and a coach scouted me”.
“God paved the way for me, so everything I achieved is god’s plan for me. And I’m very lucky that I’ve played and shared the pitch with Doceline Theolore back in the day, who is now our assistant coach. I’ve enjoyed playing with her, and now I enjoy her instructions to the team and myself. I thank her a lot for everything she does for this team, she’s phenomenal” Salome added gratefully.
Asked about WCL, she said “This tournament is huge, we used to only dream about local tournaments. I’d like to thank CAF and Egypt, the mother of every big event in Africa, for this huge step for women’s football”.
A message she wanted to deliver to everyone was: “The journey is not easy, but every sacrifice pays off. People start caring about women’s football these days, so we must not give up. With hope and courage, every girl can reach her dream”.
Salome spoke about both her football ambitions and her personal ones. “In football, I think I have at least three more years, so I pray I can play and perform well all of that time to be able to achieve more with my team, hopefully play in this tournament again. In my personal life, I’m hoping to start a family soon and maybe have kids”.
The player who had a knock in the last match believes she can overcome her injury and play as she thinks the mental status of her team is more important than any knocks.