Nabweteme, a passionate footballer stumbling into the national limelight

KAMPALA- Kawempe Muslim School, since inception in 1984, never dished out bursaries to students who had talent. But in 2010, the story changed after the school discovered they could transform their fortunes in girls’ football with the services of Sandra Nabweteme.

Nabweteme, 18, had only finished her Primary Seven at New Progressive School, Natete in 2009 when Kawempe’s games teacher Ayub Khalifan, spotted her among the usual blend of maybes, will-bes and probably-won’t-bes at Proline Soccer Academy.
“This was a talent too good to be ignored. We had to tie her down by all means so it was important that we offered her a bursary,” Khalifan tells Daily Monitor as he oversees the girls’ training session in one half of the school’s pitch while the other members of the sports department minded the boys in the other half.

In training, Nabweteme chases the ball from one end to another, throws in a joke and banter among her peers from time to time. The passion, she says, stems right from her mother Angela Nabukeera who played in the early 2000s for Kampala United.

Her talent, though, was horned, among boys, at the age of six under the tutelage of her grandmother Geturidah Nalubowa in Natete.

“My mother played football but I wasn’t staying with her when I started. My grandmother had no problem and she didn’t stop me from playing with boys,” Nabweteme shares.

At the time she joined Kawempe in 2005, Nabweteme couldn’t break into the midfield dominated by Aisha Nakitto, Shadia Nandawula and Shamim Nakachwa.

“I like passing the ball and being the master planner in the team but I had to adjust and become a striker. Slowly, I started finding the goals on a consistent basis.

“Luckily, I can still influence games because I am allowed to move anywhere on the pitch like Wayne Rooney. I defend, score and initiate attacks. I love taking responsibility,” Nabweteme shares.

Nabweteme’s time at Kawempe has seen them win four of the past five National Post-Primary competitions losing only one, in 2012 to St Mary’s College, Kitende and a host of other trophies.

The collective success of girls’ football team has inspired the school push for bursaries for the boys too.
Nabweteme’s brother, Jackson Kiraza, who joined the school early this year, is one of the few beneficiaries of the programme that started last year.
“We can’t quantify what she (Nabweteme) has given back to us. She has repaid the faith we had in her,” Khalifah says.

National league
She has dedicated her near future to playing for the school turned club, in the inaugural national women’s football league.

“Football is my business. I have studied here for free for six years. I can only pay back by giving my best on pitch and helping the team win games,” a self-assured Nabweteme shares in her high-pitched tone.

Plenty of female footballers have passed through Kawempe since 2000- when girls’ football was introduced but they fade away after senior six. Mainly because there was no means for continuity but the 12-team Women’s league offers a new dawn and Nabweteme, who has had a splendid start- scoring eight in the first two games, can’t hide her excitement.

“I will play here until there is an offer to play professional football abroad. We are looking at achieving big things, in women’s football, as a group and even some of those that left are coming back to join the club,” Nabweteme, who dons shirt ‘8’ said.

“I have that superstitious bit in me but it is a footballer’s thing. Four is my lucky number but I wear eight for someone- but that is a secret.”

A star’s arrogance
Her first stint with the women’s national teams saw her score four goals against South Sudan in the 2014 Women’s U-20 World Cup qualifier in 2013. Uganda scored nine away and 13 at home winning 22-0 on aggregate.

However, the team pulled out because of financial constraints before their final qualification game against Ghana.

“It was unfortunate and hard to take because we thought Fufa could do more and source funds. But we have moved on and eagerly await the next opportunity,” she says.

Yet her opportunity could have come earlier but for her hot-head, Nabweteme was dropped in 2011 by the senior team coach Majidah Nantanda.

“I have quite a temper but my coaches have helped me tame it over the years. I am even making more friends in football but I still love having things my way,” Nabweteme shares.

Her stubbornness stretches to home where she has exempted herself from doing house chores.

“What is there to do at home?” she asks. “Our mum leaves with the little ones every morning and she leaves us with transport to go and play football. There is really little to do. Mum’s main concern is that whoever leaves home, must come back before her in the evening.”

Pursuing a dream
Among female footballers, Nabweteme idolizes Brazilian forward Marta Vieira de Silva and hopes to play professional football in Spain.

She has picked inspiration from her travels to Norway as part of the ‘Bring Children’, a charity campaign but for now her heart is settled at Kawempe Muslim Football Club and pursuing an accountancy degree at Makerere University.

“I thought I would be an engineer but if I am to continue playing football, I can’t do such a course. I will need a less hectic one.”

SANDRA NABWETEME PROFILE
Born on November 1, 1996
2005-2006 Went to Bright Stars, Natete (P1-P2)
2007-2009 Joined New Progressive, Natete (P3-P7)
2008-2009 Joined Proline Soccer Academy from
2010-2013 Joined Kawempe Muslim SS. She got 26 in 8 at O’ Level
*2014-2015 Pursuing PEM/IT (Physics, Economics, Mathematics, Information Technology)
*She won NPP in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and is hungry to win it this year so that Kawempe can have the trophy for keeps.
*She has won a host of other trophies in Kawempe Division Post Primaries, UMEA Cup, Women’s Day Cup, Independence Cup and others
* She loves Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero’s style of play but growing up, her peers called her ‘Bengo’ for her creativity

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