Balaka District Women’s Football Committee dreams big, but…

By Precious Msosa

After hosting a successful women’s football bonanza, Balaka District Women’s Football Committee (BDWFC) has said it intends to form a district women’s select team that will be competing in regional tournaments as way of exposing talent.

Speaking during the sidelines of the committee’s football bonanza finals at Balaka Stadium recently, Emmie Blaimu who is the committee’s chairperson said they are greatly impressed with the talent which the girls showcased during the bonanza such that forming a select team would be beneficial for the girls.

“As you have seen, there is great potential among the girls. As a committee, what we are now planning is coming up with a select team that should be representing the district in regional tournaments. We hope this will be good for the girls’ exposure and progress in the game,” said Blaimu.

Blue Stars celebrating with the trophy together with some officials from the organizing committee|Photo credit: Precious Msosa

She said most of the district’s teams do not participate in any big tournaments thereby limiting their opportunity to get spotted by the established teams.

Blaimu said their immediate plan after the bonanza is to bang heads with owners of the teams and together map the way forward. In addition, she also said it is their wish to start a district league so that the girls should perfect their respective skills.

She therefore, appealed to well-wishers and the business people from the district to consider coming to their rescue. While thanking the people that supported the bonanza, Blaimu said lack of enough support for the women’s football is greatly affecting the growth of the game in the district.

General Secretary for Southern Region Women’s Football Association (SRWFA) Sungeni Kamoto commended the committee for the initiative which she described as a big motivation in the game.

Blaimu: We would like to form a select team and also establish a league|Photo credit: Enmmie Blaimu

However, she bemoaned lack of resources which she said is seriously affecting the game. For instance, she said some teams have been using the same jersey for over two years.  

During the finals of the bonanza at Balaka Stadium which started on March 28 with five teams, Blue Stars beat Ulongwe 3-2 through post match penalties after drawing 2-2 in regulation time which saw the Stars coming from behind twice. They pocketed K150, 000 while Ulongwe smiled home with K100, 000.