WOMEN FOR CHANGE

By ERNEST NDUNDA

FOOTBALL WRITER

Women who have been in football administration have been urged to go for elective posts during the forthcoming election to restore integrity of the sport in the country.

Asha Pili, the Chairperson of the National Women Football Initiative said most of the women were less tainted in football scandals and stood high chances of winning public confidence.

"Kenyan football has been undergoing problems on and off the field but women are ready to restore it if elected to senior positions," said Pili.

In an interview at our Mombasa offices, Pili accompanied by organising Secretary Elizabeth Shako said time had come for the old guard to be shown the door and pave way for more energetic and fresh blood to take over the leadership. "We are in the process of launching Football for Change campaign on January 29 at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa before spreading the wings to other regions," said Pili.

She said both Football Kenya Limited and Kenya Football Federation had totally ignored women football.

"We want to work with people who are ready to recognise the presence of women football in the country," added Pili.

She said her initiative had over 200 women clubs, which she said were active in both tournaments and leagues.

At the same time, Shako announced that this year's women national league, which starts immediately after the election would comprise 14, teams up from 12 last year.

MINI-LEAGUE

She said no team would be relegated, adding that there would be a mini-league involving three representatives from Coast zone, which has Coast, North Eastern and Eastern.

Teams in the Coast Zone mini-league set for February 5 and 6 in Mombasa are Nguutani from Eastern, Garissa Medical Training College, Malindi Action Girls (Malindi), Moving the Goal Posts (Kilifi), Shining Stars (Mombasa), J Had (Mombasa), Samba Ladies (Mombasa), Taita Estate (Taita), Coastal Queens (Mombasa) and Ukunda Queens (South Coast).

The other Western zones, which has Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley have selected Lake Victoria Karachuonyo as their representative for the mini-league. Nairobi Zone has teams from Nairobi and Central regions. The top two teams in the mini-league would automatically qualify for the national league. The Women league was inaugurated last year with the support of the Ministry of Sports and Unicef.

Source: The Standard | Online Edition