WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Youth Programmes will help develop the women’s game – Majidah Nantanda
Uganda National women’s football team, The Crested Cranes’ head coach, Majidah Nantanda is mesmerized by the numerous youth programmes blessed by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) towards developing the beautiful game among the feminine gender in the country.
‘I am so glad that FUFA has blessed many women football programmes especially among the youths and schools. This will surely help to raise awareness about the game in all corners of the country’ Nantanda tells www.fufa.co.ug in an exclusive interview.
Airtel Rising Stars programme
Citing the example of the current Airtel Rising stars U-17 girls football tournament, Nantanda adds that such programmes not only help to unearth the unknown talents, but also continue to give the girls confidence.
‘Sincerely, the Airtel Rising Stars football tourney is a blessing to our nation Uganda. Abundant talents have been identified and helped to develop’ said Nantanda
Nantanda started with the program in 2010 and has seen the tournament grow over the years.
The tournament, which marks the 4th edition this year with the National finals due in Fort Portal next weekend is targeted at identifying raw talent, both of school age and in the community.
‘Growing the game for girls programme’
Nantanda is delighted about the special women programe currently going on in the country.
Dubbed ‘Growing the game for girls’, the programme has also helped the feminine gender to have self belief, improved life style, counselling sessions, access to free education for the talented girls as well as create an updated data base for the national team set up.
‘Growing the game for girls programme’ is aimed at marketing the game of football among the girl child across every part of the country’ Nantanda, who also acts as one of the directors for the programme says.
Nantanda co-ordinates the ‘Growing the game for girls programme’ with Dan Kiwanuka and Christine Nakibuuka as they also work hand in hand with several volunteers (both within and outside the country). Kiwanuka is teh goalkeeping coach for the women’s senior side who has been helped the Under 17 boys squad at Njeru Technical centre.
Challenges:
The national team head coach also highlights some of the challenges that need urgent attention so that the game is taken to another level among the women.
Making Women programmes known;
Nantanda says, many women football programmes are never made known to the entire country.
‘This is a too big a challenge because the talents that would have been unearthed elsewhere are never reached’ says Nantanda.
She also calls for more coaching education where the women football instructors, trainers and coaches need to be taught what to do, how and when.
‘Ofcourse, the biggest problem is shortage of enough financial resources to implement the paper work ideas into tangible work.
Our league too needs to be beefed up and spread across the entire region. Perhaps I am so glad to FUFA for allowing the existence of all such programmes and those yet to come’ adds Nantanda a former National team player.
Main photo: National Women Head coach Majidah Nantanda
Photo Credit: FUFA Communications Department
