THE BIG INTERVIEW: Queens Of WestNile SC Positively Impacting Women’s Football In WestNile Region
The emergency of Queens of WestNile Sports Club (QWSC) is creating positive impacts in the development of women’s football in WestNile Region.
Historically WestNile has never had a professional women’s football club participating in the FUFA Women Elite League that has 16 teams in 2019 and 12 teams in 2015.
While WestNile maybe lacking that, Mr Olema Hamza the club chairman who doubles as the head coach took a bold step in formation of this ladies football team and is hoping to see his team qualify to the FUFA Women’s Elite League very soon.
Our senior reporter Elias Swali Bandullu hooked up with the gaffer who orchestrated the formation of Queens of WestNile Sports Club.
Tells us more about Queens of WestNile Sports Club and When was it formed?
Queens of WestNile Sports Club is a registered club with FUFA and it’s for girls with the aim of promoting girl child sports where we started with football but other sports like Badminton, Basketballs etc will come later.
This club was formed in 2019 by me Olema Hanza who is also comfortable as the official head coach of the club.
Why have chosen ladies football despite it’s low support in the region?
The reason why i formed this team is just the love and passion for ladies football, I came from Kawempe Muslims where I completed my A-Level from so madam Aisha made me fall in love with ladies football as she was very instrumental in promoting ladies football in Kawempe.
How have you been coping up with the team and what have been the biggest challenges you have faced as a head coach and the club chairman?
The biggest challenge so far is the sponsors I have only one sponsor and that is Osman Tuhombe who owns Tuhombe Engineering Ltd as our official shirt sponsor meanwhile I use my own money from my other works to buy balls for this team.
What are some of your biggest achievements so far?
The greatest achievement which made me happy was the third place which we won in Maracha because my team was the underdog. However in Arua here i started in a funny way but this girls made me proud by winning the first edition of women’s cup, the end of year ladies tournament, they also won the Edobo Foundation Esther Cup and the surprise package is that the girls who were idle in the streets are the ones winning this trophies for us.
Another achievement is the way I send my girls to school that is the stepping stone for me which means I’m giving away for the community they have to go school and me and my team secure bursaries for them as 45% of our players are studying outside the region and on bursary basis.
What are your plans and ambitions as the club chairman and any message to the funs?
My biggest plan and ambitions is to see this club qualify to the FUFA Women’s Elite League such that we also produce our own girls playing football like those in South Africa, Zambia and even Uganda.
My message to the funs and parents outside there is they should bring there girls starting from the age category of 12-17 to this team we shall modify this girl to be the Nalukenge of WestNile.
According to Olema, Queens of WestNile Sports Club are set to host Kakwa Queens in a friendly match encounter on Sunday 14/08/2022.
Thank you Mr Olema Hamza for your time.
