When Grace Chanda steps onto the pitch, the spotlight naturally falls on what supporters can see — the goals, the performances, the celebrations and the 90 minutes of football.
But behind every appearance is a less visible story.
It is a story of discipline, sacrifice, setbacks and the daily decision to keep going.
For Chanda, what it takes to play at the highest level is not simply talent. It is the willingness to do the work when nobody is watching, to push through difficult days and to remain committed when things do not go according to plan.
Her journey has taken her from being a little girl who simply loved football to representing Zambia on some of the biggest stages in the women’s game. Now, as vice-captain of the Copper Queens and a player based in Mexico, she carries responsibilities that extend beyond her own performance.
Yet the foundation remains the same: remembering why she started.
Remembering Why She Started
Chanda’s love for football began with the simple joy of playing and dreaming. That connection with the game remains important to her, even after everything she has experienced.
“When football becomes difficult, I remind myself of the little girl who simply loved the game and had a dream,” she says.
That memory has helped her through the less glamorous parts of the journey.
There have been injuries, illness, disappointing results and difficult matches — moments when things did not go as planned. Such setbacks can easily become defining moments for an athlete, but Chanda has learned to see them differently.
“They are part of the journey,” she says.
For her, the important question is not whether difficulties will come, but how a player responds when they do.
Every setback has offered a lesson, strengthening her mentally and teaching her to remain patient. The ability to keep moving forward, even when progress feels slow, has become one of the defining demands of her career.
The Sacrifice of Leaving Home
That mentality is especially important now that her career has taken her away from home.
Playing in Mexico has brought new experiences, but it has also required sacrifice. Being away from family and the familiar comforts of home is not easy. There are moments when challenges have to be faced alone, requiring her to adapt quickly while maintaining focus on the game.
For Chanda, that is part of the responsibility of being a professional footballer.
The Discipline Behind the Performance
The demands do not end when training finishes. Her routine revolves around being ready to perform, with training, recovery, nutrition and rest all playing a role.
At this level, she understands that shortcuts can come at a cost.
Her body is her most important tool — the instrument that allows her to perform for both her club and Zambia. Looking after it, therefore, is not an optional extra but part of the job.
That discipline has helped turn years of work and sacrifice into visible achievements.
Chanda has represented Zambia at major tournaments and experienced football on some of the biggest stages. Those moments are now part of her career story, but she knows they did not happen overnight.
Success, she says, is often what people see. The setbacks, sacrifices and countless hours of preparation that come before it are easier to miss.
Wearing the Jersey, Setting the Standard
Perhaps that is why wearing the Copper Queens jersey carries such significance.
Every time Chanda represents Zambia, she is reminded of where she came from and the people who believed in her. She also thinks about the young girls back home who dream of one day playing football themselves.
That responsibility has taken on even greater meaning since she became vice-captain.
Leadership, for Chanda, is not simply about wearing the armband or speaking in front of the team. It is about helping others, setting standards and leading through actions.
She believes leadership begins with consistency — doing the right things every day, whether people are watching or not.
A Choice Made Every Day
That philosophy captures what her journey has demanded from her.
It takes sacrifice to leave home. It takes discipline to maintain the routine. It takes resilience to recover from injuries, illness and disappointment. It takes patience to keep developing when progress is not immediate. And it takes belief to continue pursuing a dream long after the excitement of simply starting has passed.
Chanda has already reached stages that the little girl who fell in love with football could only have imagined.
But she is not finished.
The next chapter will demand the same qualities that carried her this far: discipline, resilience, consistency and an enduring love for the game.
Because for Grace Chanda, what it takes is not something a player discovers once.
It is a choice made every day.