A player from the US team challenges a Kawempe girl. Kawempe won the 4-team event

By Andrew Kabuura

THE Kampala Kids’ League (KKL) is expanding its soccer development programme to girls and women.

The KKL, which has for years been developing and nurturing young talent, in collaboration with Timp View High School, USA, flew in a girl’s team to compete against local sides.

The team, Goal for Girls, which has played in Gulu and Jinja consists of 15-19 year-old girls.

“Our main target is to encourage the young girls who think they can’t do what men can,” said Jackie Skinner, the Timp View coach/player.

“We hope our presence here can encourage many young girls to believe in themselves,” she added after playing a game at the Kabira Country Club in Bukoto near Kampala.

Trevor Dudley, the KKL manager also believes the iniative will yield fruits soon.

“All we are doing is show Ugandan girls that women are equally good in the game,” he said.

Dudley plans to incorporate a ladies’ team in the KKL tour of Europe.

“In the next threes years we should have a formidable girls’ team to tour Europe and compete” he promised.

KKL is set to tour Europe to compete in several tournaments in Sweden and Denmark. The team will play FC Barcelona’s junior team among others in Sweden before they compete in the Gothia Cup. They depart on the June 23.

Timp View which departs today has visited disadvantaged children to encourage the young girls to take up sport.

“Yes, we have been to IDP camps in Gulu, babies’ homes and schools in Lugazi,” explained Skinner.