Nigerian goalkeeper Zainab Yewande Omoyila Balogun has officially announced her retirement from football at 35, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Yewande, born on September 28, 1989, in Washington, D.C., and represented at the international level announced her retirement via her Instagram handle.
In a heartfelt statement, Balogun reflected on her unconventional journey, characterized by resilience, unwavering faith, and a steadfast commitment to realizing her dreams.
"Maybe it's fitting that I never officially announced "retirement" after university and after having knee cartilage replacement surgery. While it left me with no actual closure from my playing career, it also left open a door to go back to playing, and it was so obvious to walk through it when the opportunity presented itself a decade later.
The journey has been unpredictable with some beautiful highs and some dark lows. Sure, my path could have been different, but then so would the story. Now the story is one of belief; in God, and in myself. One of determination against so many odds. One of taking risks, saying yes, and jumping far away from the safety net and into the unknown. A story of being too afraid of regret to even consider failure.
In this story, a lifelong dream of playing professional football, a dream I believed to be long lost, was revived. I was blessed to have represented Nigeria on the international stage. I lived and played in different countries and I never stopped learning about the game, about the world, or myself.
They say it's not about the destination but the journey, and what I can tell you is that many of the best parts of this story didn't take place on the pitch. They are the memories from the places I got to see, and the people I met along the way. Many who walked alongside me, many who supported me, and the occasional antagonist. They all gave me reasons to keep the faith and continue to find the joy in all of it, despite the circumstances or plot twists. I'm especially grateful to the ones who helped make it all possible in the first place.
My body is saying it's time to close this chapter and hang up the boots (for real this time) but I thank God for every step of this journey. I'm forever grateful for the beautiful game and all it's given me, so here's to continuing to find ways to give right back. Thank you for all the love and support along the way." She said.
She played for clubs like St. Étienne and ŽFK Spartak.
Uche Dozie