Injuries are an unfortunate reality for professional footballers, but Aisha Masaka has endured more than her own share over the past year.
The Tanzanian forward player was expected to shine at the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco, but got a knee injury during the Twiga Stars’ preparations forced her to withdraw from the squad.
That setback added to a tough debut season with Brighton & Hove Albion Women in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL), where Masaka saw limited action due to a string of injuries. She was sidelined for five months with a serious shoulder injury, sustained just minutes after making her WSL debut against Arsenal in November.
“This hasn’t been a good season for me,” the 21 year old reporters.
“It’s a major step up because the WSL is one of the biggest leagues in the world. I need more experience, and to gain that, I need to be on the pitch.”
While Masaka had to watch from the sidelines, her Brighton teammates secured a fifth place finish in the WSL, the best ever result in the club’s history.
Still, the first Tanzanian woman to play top tier football in England says she has gained valuable insights from watching top professionals like Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, who have been key players for the Lionesses for years.
