The fourth edition of the Jean Sseninde Women football development tournament is set to be bigger and better.
The tourney has gone across the borders – For the first time since inception in 2016, this year’s edition will feature a team from outside Uganda.
Kinondori Girls Football club will travel all the way from Tanzania to grace the one day event at Kakyeeka Stadium on the 24th of August this year in Mbarara.
The Senninde women’s Development football cup is a grassroots tourney that aims to create opportunities for all women to play football in Uganda via different communities.
World football governing body, FIFA, will also be represented by Sarai Baremani who is the Chief for women’s football.
Lydia Nsekera, former Burundi Football federation was the guest of honour last year when Luwero’s Talented platform edged Mukono community to clinch the third edition.
Iganga’s Mwonda Foundation were champions in 2017 while Entebbe’s Taggy High school scooped the bragging rights for the first edition which was held in 2016 at Villa park.
Sseninde Buoyant
Jean, fomerly at Crystal Palace, in her own words ahead of the showpiece in Mbarara:
Looking back from 2016, wow leaps and bounds we have made.
I remember the first edition in my Maama’s office at 3am the day before the tournament busy typing team sheets, I was innocent just starting to break on the scene in the real world. Didn’t know what was coming for me four years later.
The sacrifices I’ve had to make to make sure this runs for the fourth year are just what I didn’t expect. The demand the sleepless nights and so much in between you won’t know of course. I wouldn’t have done anything without my incredible team. We started as 9 volunteers and now we are 52. Still can’t believe what’s happening at times.
Usually athletes take sport number 1 and I do as well. Can’t believe I put my career on the line for the first time in my life and I felt fulfilled. I feel my vision is clearer now. My dream is to see millions of girls get opportunities I never got and that’s going to be my fight through actions. I want to live by example.
As I continue to spend more sleepless nights, I pray and hope we continue to work together and support each other through it all. We can never be 100 percent but we can try to be the best version of what we can be because the time is NOW.
The Eight Participants
Kira Girls Soccer Academy, Kisoro Young Simba Girls, Mbarara Junior, Kinondoni Girls, Mbarara Sports Academy, St Mary’s Vocational, Kigezi Harambee, Youth Sports Uganda.
