From refugee to playing in the World Cup, Ode Fulutudilu tells her story

From refugee to playing in the World Cup, Ode Fulutudilu tells her story

Born in the War-torn Congo and finding refugee in South Africa then later being part of a World Cup squad, retired Banyana Banyana international Ode Fulutudilu is launching her autobiography detailing her life journey.

Fulutudilu was part of coach Desiree Ellis’ Banyana squad that represented South Africa in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

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She was born in Kinshasa, DR Congo then at three years old her family left the country due to the unrest first finding refugee in Angola before moving to Cape Town.  Later in life, Fulutudilu was lucky enough to get a scholarship to study and play football in the USA at Lee University where she graduated with a BA in Sociology, Social Work. She details how she only started to read and write later than most children.

What contributed to me only being able to write and read when I was 12 was because growing up in South Africa my father never had the money to send me to school so I had no foundation of grade 1,2 and 3. I did three or so months of grade 1 and a few months of grade 2 that was in a Xhosa school and I learnt absolutely nothing as I could not speak or understand the language,”  Fulutudilu said.

I actually started writing this book 10 years ago when I graduated from university because I have always wanted to share my story of my beginning. At that point when I started writing I had no idea where my soccer career would take me or where I would end up with it but I’ve always known my beginning had to be shared so that others can see there is always hope. That how we start off in life does not have to dictate how or where we end up in life. That we are not victims of my our past but more than conquers.”

The former Banyana forward has also played for Cape Town Roses, ONS in Finland, Malaga in Spain, Aland United in Finland, joined her Banyana teammate Janine Van Wyk at Glasgow City in Scotland, FC Fleury 91 in France then retired at Real Betis in Spain. Her advise to girls who want to play football is to put education first.

“The advice I have and have always had for young African girls is that they should pursue their education above soccer. Because soccer can be taken away from you by injury or teams not signing you but once you have your education no one can take that away from you,” she added.

“Once you have your education you can pursue your soccer to the fullest knowing that if things should not go as planned at least you have the education you need to earn an income while waiting for things with soccer to work out.''