Women’s football in Uganda started way back in the early 90’s with girls and women playing the game for fun. The game was scanty and there was no defined structure as compared today but we appreciate the efforts. Girls and women would competitively play against the opposite sex.
Mrs. Kazibwe Baker (RIP) a.k.a Mama Baker and Mr. Paul Ssali are the founding members of women football in Uganda.
The then National senior team, the She- Kobs would be hand0picked because there was no defined structure/competition where a national team would be selected.
A national league was tried out (in the mid 90s) but fell short because of lack of sponsorship.
The National team (She Kobs) played its first international match in Nairobi Kenya (1994).
The first qualification attempt for the Africa Cup for women was in 1998 when Uganda hosted Egypt at Nakivubo Stadium and drew 1-1 and lost to Egypt 0-1 in away.
The tournament in South Africa (2000) where Uganda emerged 3rd , beating Reunion 3-0,drawing 2-2 with Zimbabwe and losing 0-2 to South Africa the hosts was an eye opener to most Ugandans and many fans at home picked interest. Schools and other women clubs/teams started to play the game.
On the third attempt,, in the Africa Women Cup was when Uganda played Ethiopia home and away (2003) but unfortunately were eliminated again on goal aggregate (2-3).
WOMEN FOOTBALL STRUCTURES IN UGANDA
At the inception of the former leadership of Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa (2006-2013), the game continued to grow in ranks.
Emphasis was put on grass-root development and coaching education.
Leagues were played at district and regional levels and these were crowned at the inter-districts or inter-regional championships whre selection was made for the different national team(s) .
The number of school girls’ teams playing the game is tremendously increasing because on average, 50 teams participate in the annual national post primary tournament with the best two teams representing the country at the East African games.
Schools like Kawempe Muslim SS (Kampala region), St. Mary’s Kitende(Buganda region), Masaka S S (Buganda region), Janan SS (Buganda region) and Citizen High School (Western region) are the frequent contenders at this championship.
Schools championships have produced players like Sandra Nabweteme, Sawuya Sana and Sanya Babirye who have dominated the scoring charts.
FUFA, through its structures facilitates the competition in terms of technical support, equipmen at district level, sponsors the women technical team to scout for U17 and U20 players and FIFA certified female referees to officiate games at the finals.
Schools have also played a role in feeding clubs with players who leave school which has enhanced clubs consolidation.
Under the current leadership of FUFA President Eng Moses Magogo , women regional leagues have been emphasised and strengthened where a national league will be formed.
Kampala region has a bigger and better pool of players and the lead scorer in this year’s(2014) was Babirye Winnie of She Cor-porate XI.
A regional women’s league in Kampala lasts for a period of 6 months as opposed to other regions that play a shorter time and in a gala format.
The main challenges with up country regional leagues are- distance between the teams and limited players since most of the players are school going.
Participation at international level
The U20 team participated in the World Cup qualifiers (Germany) of 2009. Uganda beat Rwanda 2-1 at home and 1-1 but failed to proceed to play in Zambia and South Africa due to lack of funds.
Again, the National U20 faced off with South Sudan in a 1st round world cup qualifier 2014 game where Uganda beat South Sudan 9-0 away and 13-at home in Lugogo hence qualifying for the 2nd round but Egypt pulled out leaving Uganda with a clear chance of playing Ghana in the 3rd round stage on 7th December 2013, away and 20th December 2013, home.
It was unfortunate that because of lack of funds the team pulled out.
The Senior national team now the CRESTED CRANES played friendly games in Egypt (2011) to prepare for the AWC(2012). DR Congo eliminated the team on 2-5 goal average.
We have wished to engage in various international competitions but all is falling short because of limited funds. The Federation has always tasked its finance and marketing department to find sponsorship for women football. There is a ray of hope for the sponsorship!
Currently, we boast of formidable U17, U20 and U23 teams in that there is a defined recruitment structure for the senior national and for the different national team categories from the activities of the 5 previous years!.
In September 2013, our U17 girls national team played in the U17 Airtel Rising Stars African Championship, another strong youth structure in Nigeria and Uganda emerged 4th out of 12 other African countries. Our very own lady head coach, Hadijah Namuyanja Mourinho won the best female coach accolade well as Namutosi Agnes and Lilian Akello were selected among the All-Stars team to represent Uganda at the Arsenal Camp in Rwanda. Thanks to FUFA and Airtel for the sponsorship . It is an annual event which starts at district level, then to the regional level and nationals where an U17 national team is selected for the African championship. This year’s (2014)championship that was scheduled to take place in Gabon, was postponed due to Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Again under the current leadership, grassroots and youth football have been much considered in the Federation technical strategic plan. FUFA applied to FIFA for a grassroots football for both girls and boys. This already is in plan and FIFA, FUFA, Ministries; Local Government and Education & Sports will on 15th sign a memorandum of understanding to officially launch girls and boys football in all primary schools in Uganda for ages 8 to 13. And on 20th September 2014, the launch and football festival for Kampala region will take place at Old Kampala SS grounds.
Administration
Three ladies have undergone high level football administration training and the entire women football fraternity has benefited. They are Mrs. Florence B. Nkalubo(former FUFA Executive member in charge of women football), Ms. Kaliga Mariam and Ms. Nambi Loida.
We also have FUFA Women Standing Committee in place which implements the women football work-plan annually. It is headed by Ms. Mariam Kaliga an Executive member of FUFA in charge of women football.
There is a full time employee, Ms. Hadijah Namuyanja who coordinates women football affairs nation- wide at the FUFA headquarters.
FUFA also operates and channels its activities through its structures namely; Uganda Women Football Association headed by Ms. Efrance Nanjego from Eastern region, regions district football associations, where women representation is a must!
Coaching
Most retired players have been trained as coaches. Currently, we have 5 qualified lady coaches who have attended FIFA, CAF and FUFA coaching courses and have attained among others the CAF C license. All are retired players who have the knowledge, playing experience and expertise in coaching therefore they were appointed to handle the technical matters of the different ladies national soccer teams as seen below.
Senior National team: Ms. Nantanda Majidah(Head coach)
U20 National Team: Ms.Oliver Mbekeka(Assistant), Ms.Christine Nakibuuka Wanyana( Assistant)
U17 National Team: Hadijah Namuyanja (Head coach), Faridah Bulega (Assistant)
Other coaches, both men and women have also undergone training to specially handle women’s football.
