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When the new Saudi Women’s Premier League campaign gets underway on Friday, Al-Nassr striker Clara Luvanga will be looking to pick up where she left off. <\/b><\/p>\n
The 19-year-old Tanzanian opted to swap Spain for Saudi Arabia last October and made an immediate impression – despite her decision raising a few eyebrows, particularly in her homeland. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was my best season so far and I\u2019m so happy to have helped the team win their second successive league championship,\u201d Luvanga told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n
Just two months before joining Al-Nassr, Luvanga had swapped Yanga Princess in her homeland for Spanish second division side Dux Logrono.<\/p>\n
The move to Europe appeared to be the perfect place to develop, but the talented teenager played only six matches, scoring two goals, before Al-Nassr – whose men\u2019s team is home to Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane – swooped to bring her to the Kingdom\u2019s fledgling women’s competition.<\/p>\n
Her debut campaign brought 11 goals and a league-best seven assists.<\/p>\n
In fact, only three players in the division scored more than Luvanga, one of whom was her Algerian team-mate, ex-PSG midfielder Lina Boussaha.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a very good time in Spain but when I got a chance to go play in the Saudi league, I thought it was better to look at other challenges based on my goals.”<\/p>\n
In 2022-23, the debut Women’s Premier League campaign, the club won the championship by three points; last season they cantered to victory with a 10-point cushion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was difficult initially to get used to the environment in Saudi Arabia, including the language, food and many things, but now I\u2019m used to it and everything is going well, and I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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