Girls playing football

Sincerely Rwanda has so far done better in establishing women football than some of the countries, especially in East and central Africa and also those in Middle East where they only play a championship and some not even considering women football at all. This is not the case here, where you have a league with ten clubs, which are very competitive. When you happen to go and watch a match in some of the on going league campaign during the weekend, you realize that football is not only for boys, girls were only cheated not to begin the sport earlier. Thanks for FIFA that is helping them to do so by letting them portray their talents in the process of developing women football across the world. If you watch APR FC playing with its passing and attacking game and their rivals AS Kigali FC, who are a bit physical and tackling each other, you may think that these girls were girls by mistake. But, however, there is still work to be done, though, especially in attracting more players. So the parents are called upon to allow their daughters who have talent in football to develop them, which is best done when the girls are still young. Most of these girls are about 15 years old. It is always better when they start at the early age of 7 to 8. According to Monika Staab a promoter of women football and who works as FIFA instructor advised to establish more clubs in schools to spot talented girls, and also organize competitions in schools. Regional tournaments could also help, she said, because give players gain experience and exposure during her visit in May in Rwanda According to the FIFA instructor, there should be at least 50,000 players in the country to further develop the game, and of course, that will require more coaches, which will require having more funds and this may be an obstacle. “These girls are great, they have the talent and skilled,” Monika was impressed. FIFA has so far put in US$ 37,500 (about 20 million francs), which is half of the budget of FERWAFA that is meant to push the women football in the country. Felicite Rwemarika, the president of women football commission in Rwanda in an interview said that the federation is making a structure playing regular friendly matches next year with teams from neighboring countries. If the women football movement in Rwanda is continued to its best, then some players will have a bright future indeed with the vision and passionate displayed by them. Like Yvonne Mukamaliza, a midfielder for Musanze football club who has so far scored 11 goals in on going league and is also part of Amavubi senior team. She says she has loved football ever since she was a child. “I would always with the boys when I was still in primary school, and be sure that I used to challenge them. Some boys even told me I was a girl by mistake, so this encouraged me to move on,” Mukamaliza said. She added that she adored watching football matches in the local league. And now she is there herself, and that she has the dreams of becoming an international. Not only these girls play football but also some have managed to balance the two elements, that is education and football its self. Francine Nziyosenga, a goalkeeper at APR FC, is also studying administration and finance at ULK. She admitted that it is sometimes complicated to balance studies and football, but she said she is confident that she will succeed in both. “Its not the first time that there is such pressure on me,” Nziyonsenga shrugs. In secondary it was the same, but I managed to get my diploma and at the same time became a keeper at APR. Its matter of organization in ones minds, it may not be easy to some but I think I will make it because I love both my studies and football,” she added. Ends