Jakarta, IO – Zahra Muzdalifah, an Indonesian female footballer, was finally recruited by the Japanese club Cerezo Osaka and signed a one-year deal with Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies after three and a half months of trials.
Zahra had a trial at Asiana Soccer School, where she was discovered. “At first, I played in the United Kingdom (UK), and then I got the opportunity for two weeks of trials in Osaka at the end of 2022,” said Zahra on Tuesday, July 4, at a hotel in Senayan, Jakarta.
Cerezo was impressed by Zahra’s ability and granted her another three month trial period in February 2023. “I was finally accepted after three months of trials there, which left me speechless and very proud,” he said.
Zahra doesn’t only intend to focus on scoring goals; she will also work harder to have a chance to play for her future team. For Zahra, getting a place as a striker for Cerezo Osaka’s first team is the most important thing. She is committed to giving her best during training and matches.
“I can score some goals if I keep my game up. That’s all,” she convinced herself. As a striker, she must not be selfish and must lead her teammates to victory. “If our mindset is only about scoring goals, then we are selfish, and I don’t like that,” said Zahra.
Zahra admitted that her teammates at Cerezo Osaka had warmly welcomed her since the trial. “I’m happy because my friends really welcomed me, despite the fact that they are much better than me. Even though I’m still having trouble communicating, my fellow Cerezo Osaka players really try to communicate with me, so I feel like I have friends,” she happily explained.
Zahra Muzdalifah, born in Jakarta on April 4, 2001, has been in love with soccer since she was 7 years old. At the age of 10, Zahra mastered the basics of playing soccer and joined the Madani Meruya Soccer School (SSB). In 2012, she joined SSB Patriot Merah Putih, followed by ASIOP Football Academy.