By McGeorge Mbare
The pioneering pilot initiative to promote the development of women ‘s football across Africa is set to kick start on January 7 , with eight clubs from the CECAFA zone to contest for the trophy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Council for East and Central African Football is the founding region of CAF’s U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament which is also part of CAF’s main strategy to promote gender equality and empower next generations of female footballers.
CAF-17 GIFT draw saw the eight clubs drawn into two groups of four, with Tanzania’s JKT Queens featuring Group A alongside City lights FC (South Sudan),BD Kemena FC (Ethiopia )and the Kenya Academy of Sports(Kenya).
In group B, the host nation will be represented by TJS Girls, and they play against Consillis Girls (Uganda),Aigle Noir FC (Burundi )and Hilaad FC (Somalia).
Meanwhile, running concurrent to the 12 day tournament will be a number of CAF Women’s football development programmes which include CAF D license coaching course, media workshops and various health initiatives.
As part of the CAF strategies to empower the development of women‘s football, the inaugural CAF U -17 Girls tournament is expected to be foundation for the career of various teenage girls in Africa which could also boost the U17 girls national teams across the region.