Sseninde foundation women’s football Soirée Webinar report|Sbk Sports Mail

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This brief summarises the proceedings and outcomes of Sseninde Foundation Women’s Football Soirée held on Wednesday 18th November 2020 via a live zoom Webinar with a live broadcast on Sseninde Foundation’s Facebook Page under the theme Adapting to Change in line with the topic of discussion which was How to Adapt to Changes Caused by COVID-19.

The purpose of this webinar was to give chance for all lovers of women’s football across the globe to join the round table as they share ideas together with speakers across africa and Europe.

The panelists shared and discussed knowledge and strategies aimed at making women’s football the best sport for all young girls & women to have same opportunities to play and push women’s football to fulfil the potential that it has.

And through highlighting lessons based on knowledge exchange and experience , the webinar offered participants a great opportunity to learn more, get exposure and guidance from the day’s panelists and identify how similar interventions can be applied and adapted to their own particular circumstances in a bid to promote women’s football all over the world.

The Webinar was moderated by seasoned Ghanaian sports journalist and Happy FM’s Presenter Ayishatu Zakaria Ali, a vigorous women’s sports advocate.

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Ayishatu is the Communication Director for Immigration Ladies FC, a Young Reporter of the International sports press Association as well as a member of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Member of Women in Football UK, and Player Relations Officer (women)- Professional Footballers Association of Ghana.

Speakers of the webinar were Donald Rukare, currently the National Council of Sports Chairman in Uganda, Ebi Onome, a Super Falcons defender who has participated in more FIFA World Cup tournaments more than any other African player male or female with a record five times and Laura Georges, the current Secretary General for the France Football Federation and a FIFA Legend.

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All the aforementioned speakers under the guidance and moderation of the webinar’s moderator Ayishatu Zakaria shared their experience while touching different topics concerned with the development of women football.

French Football Federation General Secretary and FIFA Ambassador Laura Georges addressed the topic on how football associations can help women football grow again from the pandemic.

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“The France FA has allocated an equal amount of support to Women Football in lower league clubs such that the clubs can return to active football when the pandemic ceases”.

Laura Georges said

She went ahead and shared her experience in football administration and discussed how women football administrators can continue advocating for women’s football while working with different associations.

“We need to have advocates for the game like ex-players, referees, people who are passionate about Women Football”

“Let’s not be ashamed of who we are, whether dressed in shorts or boots”

“Keep fighting and keep your voice raised for Women Football”

“We should be valued for what we do on the field”

She shared her experience in football administration

On the issue of media coverage of Women’s Football Laura had this to say

“The media needs to be able to play a big role in getting activities of Women Football covered,”

“During the pandemic, media houses need to continue creating new content of Women Football activities”

“Even when there are no matches happening, Broadcasters can show a replay of the FIFA Women’s World Cup matches”.

She suggested

Experienced Nigeria Super Falcons player Onomi Ebi who has participated in more world cups than any other African player shared her experience as a player and how she has been able to cope with the pandemic.

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Ebi who plays for Henan Jianye and has not been able to return to her club due to travel restrictions due to COVID-19 shared with the participants on how she has been training and kept her focus during the lockdown.

“As a footballer, I have to keep active and keep fit. I had to do this through the pandemic. Look for something to do”.

She said before adding

“Safety comes first, you have to train your mind,Train indoors and try and stay fit. My strength as a player is in my fitness”.

She also went ahead and emphasized the need to have more people talk about Women Football

“We need more Women on board to talk about Women Football – Let Women Football be included on the agenda”

She emphasized

Uganda National Council of Sports Chairman Donald Rukare contributed to the discussion by highlighting on how national associations can lobby the government to support women football and women in sports and also help formulate policies that protect the female athletes.

“Federations should borrow ideas from the private sector and other policy makers. In Uganda, the speaker of the Parliament of Uganda Hon:Rebecca Kadaga is a strong advocate for Women Sports”

“We need to have policies which recognize and support Women Football across all levels and also other sports”

“We also need to track statistics, how many women are taking part in sports organized events and identify role models who we can use so we change the narrative about Women Football and other sports”

On the new normal world over as a result of the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, the national council of sports chairman said

“We need to embrace change and especially with the new normal where we have to use technology to deliver our activities, meetings and events, observing the SOPs”

“Nutrition, Mental Health Training – This needs to be factored in while planning for the new normal of working , training and getting activities done for Women Football”

On the issue of media coverage for women football, Rukare said

“We need to have a deliberate strategy of covering Women Football. Engage Editors of media houses since they make the decisions on what content to publish in the media.”

“Keep the faith, the Journey of 1000 miles starts with the first step”

He concluded

Jean Sseninde, the CEO Sseninde Foundation gave closing remarks as the event drew closer to the end.

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“Thank you so much first of all to all our panelists, this has been really enlightening, I have learnt a lot from all the panelists”

Jean thanked the panelists before continuing with her remarks

“Listening to what Ebi said, having to deal with the challenge of having to train at home and not being in a competition, being a footballer myself I know what that means, training at home is not the same as being with the team”

“Moving forward, I think your advice has really been good that we should continue as players to support or to be positive and continue training, i believe that has really been enlightening for the players”

“And going on to what Laura has said, every time I listen to Laura she mentions the importance of women continuing to be the voice for Women’s Football”

For me I admire that you’re (Laura) a general secretary, you’ve played the game, you’ve done it all and you’re in that boardroom every single day trying to say Do not forget women’s football”

“That’s the simple step that it takes sometimes to continue reminding the decision makers women’s football is important”

“And listening to Mr. Donald Rukare, am blown away by the contributions because he has taught us that you’ve to target the right people”

“You know, sometimes we do too much and end up losing focus, so when we target the right people, makes strategies because when we make the strategy we’re planning and when you’re planning you end up doing the right thing”

Jean noted before thanking the panelists for the second time.

“Thank you so much to the panelists, it has been a very diverse panel from all over the world and i feel like today we’ve achieved our goal of sharing knowledge with one another”

“For me that was it and also tackling how we can move forward because now we’re in this situation”

“I think like Mr. Donald Rukare said, we need to adapt and say, okay this is now happening, let’s move on and see how we’re going to this now”

“Let’s adopt to the technology, let’s accept that this is it now and let’s move forward”

“Thank you so much, let’s keep women’s football shining, let’s move forward from the pandemic, let’s show it that we’ve beaten Covid-19 and we’re going ahead as women’s football”

“Thank you so much also to all our participants today, it has been a great pleasure having you here today and I hope you have a good night or a good morning in wherever time zone you’re in today.”

Jean concluded

If you missed out and you were unable to follow Sseninde Women’s Football Soiree webinar, worry less the recorded webinar is available on Sseninde Foundation’s Facebook page on the link below:-

https://t.co/iUHLQaoeur