Crested Cranes star Aturo inspired by Onyango

Women's football in the country has not received a lot of attention just like the men's.

It is of recent that the national U17 Women's team that won CECAFA U17 Championship, COSAFA U17 Championship last year and is on verge of qualifying for FIFA U17 Women World Cup, gave the game a different outlook on talent in the country.

There so many young girls in different parts of the country that are talented but can't progress due to cultural norms or because their parents or relatives have a negative perception of girls or women playing football.

In fact, this had cost the career of Crested Cranes and UCU Lady Cardinals goalkeeper Ruth Aturo.

"My parents stopped me to play football because I was a girl and used to come back home late from training. I would at times train till 5 pm and return home at 6 pm but they always asked me where I was from. I would inform them that I'm from training but they doubted me," stated Aturo.

Aturo believes if it was not for women's football, she does not know where she would have reached.

"Women's football has changed my life and it taught me a lot. I have managed to study through scholarships because of football," noted Aturo.

The 2018 female footballer of the year guided UCU to their first league title in the 2018/19 season and was instrumental when Cranes finished second and third in the CECAFA Women championship and COSAFA Women Championship in Tanzania and South Africa respectively in 2018.

Aturo who was selected as the best goalkeeper those competitions has a few words of wisdom for aspiring female footballers.

"You need support from your parents or relatives plus back up from friends. You need to have people who can inspire you to play the game. Working hard, listening to coaches and being disciplined will take you places," she says.

Aturo, a student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, says she decided to become a goalkeeper because her grandfather was once one and she comes from a sporting family.

The former Kawempe Muslim SS student wants to reach the level of Uganda Cranes goalkeeper and captain Dennis Onyango and if not, go past that.

Women's football is one the sectors that FIFA is trying their best to further develop with every member federation entitled to $100,000 (sh372m) of the $500,000 (sh1.8b) available for operational costs ring-fenced.