Dangmei One of Indian football's top stars, Grace, has signed a professional contract with FC Nasaf of Uzbekistan, realising her initial dream of playing abroad.
“I am extremely excited. It’s a dream come true for me,” Grace told.
“It was not an overnight dream for me. In fact, playing abroad has been a dream for a long. I used to daydream a lot about this day. It’s an opportunity for me to show my skills, and be a good ambassador for Indian women’s football,” she added.
Grace began her international career in 2013 and has since won the SAFF Women's Championships in 2016 and 2019 as well as the South Asian Games (2016, 2019).
She joined KRYPHSA FC, then transferred to Sethu FC and Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Women's League in 2018.
“I want to share my experience as I have played with the National Team for many years. I want to explore myself here. I have played three international matches against the Uzbekistan National team, and they are very tough,” the 26-year-old forward maintained.
Grace has a reputation for having a rapid pace and superb dribbling abilities. “I know everything will be different in Uzbekistan – their playing style, the culture. I will need to adapt fast, make new friends. But I am extremely excited to bring on this new challenge and share my experiences,” she expressed.
The 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers saw the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year score twice against Indonesia. Most recently, she scored against Venezuela during India's tour of Brazil in 2021.
We are all really appreciative of the exposure trips that helped women's football become more well-liked and popular in India while also boosting our confidence as players. Experience in international football is crucial, and the exposure trips I've taken in recent years have greatly aided my own development, she said.
“My message to the young girls will be, keep trying – anything can happen if you keep believing in yourself. Whatever challenges you face please don’t give up, keep trying until you reach your goal,” Grace concluded.
