Meet Team Hearts Vision - Overall Champion GGWCup East Africa 2020
At the first GGWCup East Africa edition on International Women’s Day, 34 teams played for the Global Goals at the KCCA StarTimes Stadium Lugogo, Kampala, Uganda.
It is an honor to share the players stories from Team Heart Vision playing for Global Goal 4. This team’s motto is ‘In School - not on Street!’ - and they wants to prevent children from becoming homeless, lack food, shelter or protection through the street life.
NAMAALA RUTH, 22: ‘EQUALITY MUST BE PRACTICED’
“I always thought football was for boys. I was surprised to see women from all walks of life playing football. Practicing for GGWCup has improved the relationship with people around me. Playing to promote Education for the Girl Child made me even more enthusiastic. After the winning announcement I was celebrating, jubilating and I didn’t know that I could be happy to that extend. Playing in the GGWCup completely changed my mindset. I believe everyone should take the opportunity if they can get it. If a boy can do something, a girl can do it too. There was a time that I wanted to give up, because we did not yet qualify as a team. But one of my team members told me “No” we have to continue. Now I learned that I should not give up and it helped me making better decisions. I have to push and press until I get what I want, because it’s possible.”
NABIRYO BARBRA DESPINA: ‘TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE WONDERS’
“I didn’t know about football and I used to think that I could not play any sport. I didn’t believe I could do it. But the team believed in me and told me I can make it. So I took the offer, I was open and eager to learn.
I started engaging in morning drills, which was totally new to me. I had a lot of pain, but I was happy because I experienced something that I never thought I would. During the match I got scared of going on the field, I was scared of the players. I thought we could never defeat them. But time came that I went to the field and that’s when the fear went.
I believe I did something good. I was soooo happy when I heard that we won. From that day I’m very positive about football and I’m going to engage more into sports. I believe everyone can do it, together we can make wonders.”
TWEKIRIZE DOREEN: ‘WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING’
“Before we started engaging in Global Goals World Cup I was wondering if we could make it. In my past I used to see people playing football, but I didn’t have the confidence to engage in it.
As we started training I was not able to control the ball properly. I was about to give up, but we kept training and I started gaining some confidence. As the GGWCup East Africa was approaching I got nervous, I could not sleep well. When we reached the field my legs were shaking, even my hands started shaking. But as I was playing I started believing in myself. We won. From that time I realised that football is not only for men. Now I know I can do anything.”
NAWOLIDA ANNET: ‘IT WAS ALL WORTH IT’
“Before joining the team I never played football. When I grew up I never knew a girl could also play football. When someone would ask me to come and play I always replied that I cannot play, because I’m not a boy. But they told me that I could do it. When they told me about the competition on Women’s Day I decided to join.
When entering the field I started having stomach ache and started shivering. I was hoping that my team was feeling better than me. After the first match I started gaining strength and confidence. I felt I could manage anything. When we won I was tremendously happy. After reach home I had a lot of muscle pain, but it was all worth it because we won.”
NAKIBUUKA JALIA: ‘GGWCUP MADE ME BELIEVE’
“When I was younger I used to play football with boys. I broke my toe during football, and that is where I quit playing. I was asked to play in Global Goals World Cup East Africa. I wanted to play, but I was scared that I was going to break my toe again. I started practising but inside there was a voice telling me that I can not do it.
Because I was scared I first sent someone else to play instead of me. But later I decided to go anyway. When we came to the semi finals I was very happy and the fear was gone. What got me really excited is that during the finals I hit the ball with my head. It made me believe that I can anything. The next day I had headache and my body was having muscle pain, but I didn’t bother because of my overall happiness.”
LENNEKE NSEREKO MEULENKAMP, 35: ‘SPORTS INSPIRES WOMEN’
“Our colleague asked me to join a football team. The first thing that came over me was fear, because I never played in any competition. When I learned more about GGWCup I saw that there was much more involved than football alone. I realized that we could transform lives by promoting Education though sports. It was a new approach to me. That’s where I decided that I had to jump in and kick my fear out so that I could inspire others. I taught myself it is not about me and my fears. We started (football) training and I also developed other talents (like creativity), to strengthen our team. The physical exercises helped me to be confident.All the preparations also helped me develop leadership skills.
Despite all the training I felt nervous before entering the field. But after winning the first match and knowing that the Education advocacy work we did before and during the GGWCup really paid off, I gained more trust. Watching the team going through that same transformation, from being scared to confident, gave me strength and belief that we can do more as women. The road towards the match was not easy. There was a lot of sweat and also tears. It made the winning of this tournament extra special, because now I’ve seen the proof of the effort. Participating in sports transforms lives.”
NAMBOOZE MAI, 30: ‘EDUCATE A GIRL, CHANGE THE FUTURE’
“I was surprised with the efforts all the women teams put into making the GGWCup a colorful event. And the passion the women had. It has been a while since I’ve seen women come together for a common goal.
I love football but I was always told that it's a boys game. Being on field for the first time with the other ladies is feeling beyond measure and also participating in this tournament was more than just kicking the ball.
As they say “Educate girl and change the future.” Playing for Education was the best decision we made as a team. I’m so proud of every woman who participated in the game.
GGWcup left me with the mentality that women and girls are equal and can do anything.
I thank my team for pushing and working together. Through sports we can make the Education message go viral. Winning the GGWCup East Africa was a humble surprise for me and my team members. “I have never been so happy in my entire life.”
A GGWCup is an all-women 5v5 football tournament and the winning team is the team that combines sensational and creative activism with football most spectacular. To qualify as a team, you have to choose one of the 17 UN Global Goals to play and take action for. On match day each team play matches that last 6 minutes, and after each match the teams will get points in four distinct categories: Action, Style, Crowd and Football Score.
Overall GGWCup Champion: Team Hearts VisionGlobal Goal 4 - Quality Education
Runners-up: Team Abigail’s Grandmaz
Global Goal 8 - Decent work & Economic Growth
Action Champion: Team FUFA QueensGlobal Goals 5 - Gender Equality
Style Champion: Team SUYAWIGlobal Goal 1 - No Poverty
Crowd Champion: Team Waving FlagsGlobal Goal 5 - Gender Equality
Football Champion: Team KCCA FCGlobal Goal 1 - No Poverty