Cecafa plans women challenge

Women’s football is set to be incorporated into the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) programmes starting next year.

Thursday, July 26, 2007
BY BONNIE MUGABEWomen’s football is set to be incorporated into the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) programmes starting next year. The National soccer governing body, Ferwafa Chief executive Officer, Jules Kalisa has revealed to TimeSport.The regional soccer governing body, is keen on making a deliberate policy which will include women football in the association’s calendar owing to the immense talent noticeable in the region. "There are good players in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda who can play at the highest level including the world cup and Olympics. There is need to give them a chance to showcase their skills and we too feel obliged to nurture and develop the talent,” Kalisa said. Kalisa said women football seems to have been forgotten in the region but expressed optimism that it will come in a big way if Cecafa acquires sponsorship to fund the activities. The official hinted that Cecafa is liaising with a charity organization which has expressed interest in bank-rolling the Cecafa Women Challenge Cup Should the deal go through, it will be yet another boost for Cecafa after Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete pledged to sponsor the Under-17 Youth challenge cup which was inaugurated in the association’s congress last year. President Kikwete is the fourth individual to sponsor a Cecafa event after Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, Ethiopian- tycoon Sheikh Al Amoudi and President Abedi Karume of Zanzibar.