By Taiwo Sportivation Ibrahim
Super Falcons forward, Rafiat Sule is targeting another promotion for her club, Lumezzane after playing a pivotal role in their promotion to Serie B last season, Sportivationng.com reports.
The highly-rated striker has been painting Italy with goals since leaving the shores of Nigeria.
Rafiat has enjoyed a successful time in Italy, scoring goals for fun and also winning individual laurels and trophies.
In the 2021-22 season, while playing for Vicenza she led the team to the Serie C Coppa Italia trophy and a second place finish in the league.
She continued her rich vein of form in the 2022-23 season when she scored 27 goals for Vicenza, and she was also named the best player in the region of Veneto as a reward for her impressive performances.
Rafiat Sule In Action For Lumezzane.
Rafiat Sule, who is popularly known as Batisgoal, due to her goalscoring prowess left Vicenza to join Lumezzane at the end of the 2022-23 season.
She is targeting another promotion for Lumezzane after she led them to the Serie B in her first season at the club.
Rafiat expressed her desire to lead the club to the Serie A in an exclusive interview with Sportivation Media.
She said: “My objective is to help my team gain promotion to the Serie A or better still remain in the league and get at least 10 goals before the end of the season.
She admitted that it was tough for her in the beginning but she was able to adapt due to the support of her agents, while also showering praises on her teammates and the coaching staff.
“It wasn’t easy at the beginning, due to the new environment, new teammates, weather conditions. But I was able to adapt with the help of my agents, even though my Italian is not yet top notch but I can communicate with people and my favourite Italian food is Pasta and tonno.
“The season was a very long and tough season. Honestly I will give kudos to my teammates and staff, because they were up and doing from the beginning till the end.”
Rafiat started her career in the Nigeria Women Football League, playing for the likes of Bayelsa Queens and Rivers United. She won the top scorer award in the league twice.
She was part of the Super Falcons team that won the WAFU Cup in 2019, she scored three goals to lead the team to glory, she has expressed her desire to return to the team.
Rafiat said: “I have been following the Super Falcons, wishing them well all the time and I will also be supporting them at the Olympics and hoping they will come home with the gold medal.
“I know my time will come to return to the team, I’m focused on doing well for my club, it is always a thing of joy and honour to represent my beloved country.”
She also advised upcoming footballers to be committed and be ready to learn always.
“They should be dedicated, put in extra work, don’t put in pride and be respectful to your coaches and teammates.”
Rafiat represented Nigeria at the U-17 level and she has three goals in five appearances for the Super Falcons.
She scored 21 goals in 31 matches for Lumezzane in the Serie C last season while also guiding them to the league title, promotion to Serie B and the Coppa Italia trophy.
Rafiat finished as Lumezzane’s top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions.
