By Mohammad Abdulaziz
KHARTOUM, Oct 5 (KUNA) -- After the huge leaps made in the Sudanese political sphere, women in the country took another bold step to solidify their rights by launching the first women football league. Speaking to KUNA on the matter, Minister of Youth and Sports Wala Al-Boushi said that the launch of the league -- featuring 20 teams -- would develop women sports in the country, providing a glimpse of hope for a country with a history of conflict and political upheavals.
Women took the initiative in the Sudanese revolution and here they are trying to prove themselves on the football pitch, she said proudly.
Delivering similar statements, head of the women football committee Mervat Hussein affirmed that women football was a huge part of FIFA's plan for the overall global development, saying that the current strategy was to boost the skills of young female footballers from age six to 16.
The next step is to choose a national team that would represent Sudan regionally and internationally, Hussein revealed.
While some Sudanese received the news of the launch of the league positively, there are various conservative entities in opposition of the step.
On the subject, women activist Tahani Abbas objected to the conservative view in regarding to women involvement in the sport, claiming that women were involved in football since the mid-1970s and 1980s, citing that Monira Ramadan -- a female referee -- had led several men games at that period.
The first ever all-female game was held in 1975, stated Abbas refuting claims that women involvement was against traditions and norms.
The activist affirmed that women needed to further their cause in Sudan especially after the revolution.
Meanwhile, administrator at 2001-established Al-Tahadi football club Nuha Abdulmohsen said that she was proud of current achievements for Sudanese women footballers, hoping that more progress would be made within the same sphere.
On the prospect of winning the league, Abdulmohsen stressed that the team will do all that it can to come out triumphant, adding that the win for any team in the league is an indication of how the women had made huge leaps in achieving their rights. The women football committee of Sudan was formed in 2018 after extensive effort made the previous year at the Sudan football federation. (end) mam.gta