FIFA backs women's football

Women football in the country is growing to greater heights with different teams taking part in international competitions although there has been little support locally to lift it.

However, with the launch of the women development programme by FIFA for every member association in a bid to further grow the sport, it gives hope to many stakeholders that the future of women football in the country is bright.

In line with FIFA's Women's Football Strategy, the Programme aims to provide all 211 member associations with a chance to apply for and access additional resources and specialist expertise to develop women's football at a national level for the 2020‑2023 period.

The programme includes the following projects; football Strategy, football campaign, league development, club licensing, capacity building for administrators, coach education scholarships, coach mentorship and women in football leadership programmes.

This development comes a few weeks after FIFA announced the allocation of a $500,000 (sh1.8b) grant per association as part of the COVID-19 Relief Plan that will be specifically distributed to women football.

Clubs waiting for relief funds

The local stakeholders are still waiting for these relief funds.

FIFA general secretary, Fatma Samoura revealed that the world governing soccer body is trying its best to see that women football is taken to another level.

 "FIFA's commitment to supporting our member associations in developing women's football remains one of our top priorities. In addition to the funding currently available via the COVID-19 Women's Football Grant and the FIFA Forward Programme, the FIFA Women's Football Development Programme will provide more support and assistance to member associations so that they can invest in the women's game at all levels," stated Samoura.