Lessons from Sseninde Development Cup

Kampala.

Mwandha Foundation won the second edition of the Sseninde Women Development camp after beating a resilient and exciting Bishop SS 1-0 in the finals.
Ruth Nabwire buried a sterning freekick for the Iganga-based side in the first half as they replaced the absent inaugural champions Taggy High School as holders.
Earlier in the semi-finals Mwandha had eliminated Gayaza’s Nangabo 4-3 in a dramatic shootout in a tournament organized by Crested Cranes and Crystal Palace midfielder Jean Sseninde to expose talents of underprivileged girls.
The tournament also served to show that if minders get their organization right, women’s football can scale the heights. Many Fufa Women Elite League (FWEL) coaches were in attendance and maybe just like Florence Nalumanzi, Fauzia Najjemba, Shamirah Nalujja Josephine Nalule, and Catherine Nagadya from last year, some from this year’s lot can get scholarships and opportunities to play in the top flight.
Community teams
Of the eight teams this year, only two; Jezza and Bugema – which was a replacement for Mbale Tigers – participated in last year’s edition.
The others are including Lady Doves from Masindi and Soccer2Unite where included with the “hope of building teams from communities,” according to former national coach Majidah Nantanda, a stickler for grassroots development and brain behind another community project and participants G3.
“For us it was a good opportunity to show that we have young girls that can play football. We hope that they can get the necessary support going forward,” Bishop’s coach William Kyeswa, said. The talent in rural areas is abundant, and it is up to Fufa now to give more teams a chance by raising the portfolio of regional leagues that have stalled the progress of the elite league.
Attracting corporate support
As a daughter of Wakiso Woman MP Rose Sseninde, Jean should have the ‘big brother’ to help her attract funding especially from local corporate companies but do not underestimate her effort to get Post Bank on board.
Others like KCCA football club, international football boots companies Concave – who will provide boots to over 50 participants – and Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata purely got on board because projects like hers are the way to unearth female football talent across the country.
Political clout
Rt. Hon Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, one of the guests alongside Vice President Edward Ssekandi, urged corporate companies to support women’s football
Last year, the tournament attracted the attention of Barbara ‘Barbie’ Kyagulanyi, musician and Kyadondo East MP Bobi Wine’s wife plus sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi.
There are more people willing to offer support to female players if called upon.

Best players

MVP: Faith Apio (Bishop SS)
Oldest: Teddy Sanyu (Lady Doves)
Youngest: Claire Nakigozi (Jezza)
Top Scorer: A. Nakito (Mwandha) – 3 goals
Midfielder: Faith Apio (Bishop SS)
Defender: Sarah Abonyo (Bishop SS)
Goalkeeper: R. Bammamiriza (Mwandha)a