The Development of Women’s Football in Mozambique
In Mozambique there are 68 women’s teams associated with the Mozambican Football Federation. These teams are spread out in the country’s ten provinces, where they play in provincial leagues from which the fourteen best teams play national finals. However, the quality of the football varies immensely since there is only one league at one level existing, and thus all teams irrespective of quality or age play in the same league. Additionally, the lack of other levels of playing and teams for younger players make the sport highly unsustainable. This lack of organization of women’s football in the country prevents the development of the sport and prevents a vast number of girls and women to join in the game.
To address this situation, the Lurdes Mutola Foundation, is inaugurating the project Movimento do Futebol Feminino. The project aims at improving women’s football in Mozambique through increasing the overall quality of the game. This will be done by organizing a functioning system of club football from young age to senior level, increasing the quantity of players nationally. The project will provide material for the existing women’s teams, who then are required to develop girls’ teams in return. The senior players will act as coaches for the girls’ teams, creating a positive environment where the senior players become female role models for younger players. Another condition for a club to obtain material is that it provides the players with education about women’s rights at all levels, so that the players become independent and confident women who are able to take responsibility for their own lives.
To organize a functioning system of national women’s football, material will be provided consisting of a start kit with 10 footballs, 10 vests, 20 cones, one whistle and one stopwatch. The start kits will be supplied by sponsors to the project and distributed by the Lurdes Mutola Foundation. When a club commits itself to the project, they do so on a one year basis where they receive the start kit every three months. In return, the club is required to set up a girls’ team, and educate them in women’s rights, every time they receive new material. This will result in four new girls’ teams in one year, with regular follow-ups from the Lurdes Mutola Foundation. If all the existing clubs join in the project, Mozambique will within one year have 272 new girls’ football teams.
With a well-functioning organization of women’s football, the sport can be enjoyed by numerous young girls in all provinces in Mozambique. The sport is not only a fun way to a healthy lifestyle; it also builds self-confidence which enables young leaders to take more responsibility for their own lives. Develop the sport and development will come through the sport.
Composed by: Sara Simone, Sandra Kourouma & Cecilia Andrén Nystrom
