Nyasa Big Bullets Women’s, Team formerly Blantyre Zero, have become the first local women’s football side to sign a foreign player.

The club announced yesterday the signing of a Dutch striker Anne van Els on a four-month contract.

Bullets said in a statement that she has joined the women’s side as a free agent until March 2023.

Van Els, who works as a paediatrician at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, said she decided to join Bullets after watching their matches at Kamuzu Stadium.

 She said: “Big Bullets is a big and special club to a lot of Malawians. I could especially see that, the two times I went to watch a match at the [Kamuzu] stadium.

Els: I am very excited

“So, I am very excited and honoured to join this club and start playing for the women’s team. I hope I can contribute to the club’s success.”

The 34-year-old started her football career at 15 when she joined SV Venray’s first women’s team.

Van Els later moved to Door Vriendschap Verenigd Amsterdam, playing for the second women’s side where she won the championship in 2016.

Bullets Women’s head coach Maggie Chombo said the signing of the foreign player shows that women’s football is developing.

She said: “We are happy to welcome Anne to the club. It’s an exciting signing and addition to our squad. Her arrival shows how much women’s football in the country is developing in the country [Malawi] looking at the exposure and it’s pleasing to see how happy she is to join Bullets.”

Blantyre Zero were pioneers in women’s football in early 2000s under former Malawi women’s national team coach Chombo.

The team won several trophies before Nyasa Big Bullets bought the club last year as part of requirement to participate in CAF Champions League.

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