Jean Sseninde focused on developing women’s football in Uganda

AGENCIES

Women’s football in Uganda has been growing steadily over the past few years. A semi-final appearance at the 2016 regional CECAFA Women’s Championship was followed up by an appearance at the final in 2018, signalling that the women’s game in the Pearl of Africa is on an upward trajectory.

Jean Sseninde, a member of the women’s national team, the Crested Cranes, is one person eager to see that growth break the barriers and through her Sseninde Women’s Development Cup, the former Crystal Palace and Queen’s Park Rangers defender is eager to raise the levels and the profile of the women’s game in Uganda.

“I have played at the highest club levels and the experience I have picked and how I have seen football change my life and many other women has encouraged me to contribute something to women’s football in Uganda. I would love to see more women turn professional and use their talents to improve their lives,” Sseninde told CAFOnline.com.

The Sseninde Women’s Development Cup will be celebrating its fourth anniversary this year and for the first time, it will be held outside the capital and a team from Tanzania has been invited to participate.

The eight-team tournament will be staged at the Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara on August 24. Teams will be divided into pools of four and the top two progress to the semi-finals.

Tanzania’s Kinondoni Soccer Academy will be the guest team joining home sides St. Mary’s Vocational Girls’ School, TJ Soccer Academy and Mbarara Junior team as well as Kira Girls Soccer Academy, Youth Sport Uganda, Kigezi Harambe Sports Academy and Kisoro Young Simba Girls FC.

More interesting about the tournament is that it involves players who have hitherto never participated in the national leagues or played for the national team, the Uganda Crested Cranes.

“Football is a game that helps all players to express themselves through various ways and if everyone who has a passion to play has an equal opportunity to express themselves through playing the game or serving the game in one way or the other, it would help in the development of women’s football in general,” Sseninde states.

She adds; “I want to see women’s football grow to heights where all women will be full- time professional players and not have to struggle for opportunities to play the game.”

Already from the past three editions, three players have grown to the extent of turning out for the national team, over 10 players have been scouted by universities and got educational opportunities. More than 30 have got bursaries in secondary schools whilst some 50 others have got opportunities in women’s elite league.

“This is what makes me happy to see that we can create opportunities for more women to grow. Our aim now is to continue growing going forward to be the best grassroots tournament in Africa that create opportunities for all women to play football,” a confident Sseninde affirms.

This year’s tournament will be graced by top level officials from FIFA and CAF. The world governing body will be represented by the Chief of women’s football, Sarai Bareman who will also be the Chief Guest and will be accompanied by the Head of Women’s Football Development at CAF, Safia Abdel Dayem.

Sseninde, born 4 December 1992 has a vast football experience that has seen her play for the London Phoenix Ladies FC, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and lately Queens Park Rangers where she played to the close of last season. She is an alumni of Gayaza High School and St Mary`s College Kitende, schools famous in Uganda for their sporting prowess.

She took on professional football upon getting advice from former Uganda Crested Cranes head coach Majidah Nantanda.

“I still have some years left in me and I will continue pursuing my career while also building the game back home through my foundation,” she concluded.