The first ever CECAFA Women’s Executive Leadership Workshop has today entered it’s second day at the Shitaye Suite Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Held on the sidelines of the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifier 2024, the Workshop has attracted 22 participants from 11 of the 12 Member Associations in the Zone.

During the official opening of the Workshop on Tuesday, Isayas Jira, a CAF Exco member and President of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) made it clear that the development of Women’s Football is very vital.

“This Workshop marks a significant milestone in the history of CECAFA. It is not just a gathering of leaders, it is a celebration of the progress we have made in promoting gender equality and empowering women within the Football community in our region,” added Jira.

He also thanked Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, the head of Women’s Football at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for being present in Addis Ababa to attend the Workshop. “Without you, this would not have been possible. Your presence here today is a testament to the shared vision we have for the future of Football in East and Central Africa,” Jira told the CAF of Women’s Football.

Meskerem also praised the CECAFA leadership for being able to hold this first ever impressed with CECAFA’s Women Leadership Workshop Women’s Football Executive Leadership Workshop. “It’s crucial at CAF that we keep developing Women’s Football. We keep pushing forward and the Member Associations also push by doing the group work,” she added.

Jean Namayega Sseninde, the CECAFA Women’s Football Development Manager says that having this Workshop is another step towards empowering the Women who are in Football management. “I am happy that finally this Workshop is taking place and the participants are very excited about it,” added Sseninde.

The official opening of the Workshop was also graced by the CECAFA President, Wallace Karia who is also the President of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), CECAFA Executive Director John Auka Gecheo and the Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi.

The Workshop is being conducted by two experienced instructors Mcgeever Julie Anna from England and Pasquier Eva from Austria. The participants are from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Djibouti and Zanzibar. Only Eritrea failed to send representatives.

The head coach of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC has made it clear that they are determined and hungry to win the CECAFA Women’s Champions League title and qualify for the African major tournament.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye’s team made it to the final after a hard fought 2-1 win against Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies in one of the semi-final matches played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia who have played at the past three qualifiers will face debutants Kenya Police Bullets who saw off the 2022 champions 3-2 in another semi-final match played on Monday.

In an interview with Cecafaonline, Birhanu has made it clear that playing at home motivates them even more to go all out and win the trophy. “We are very hungry to in this title because we have been in pain failing the last three times,” explained Gizaw Heye.

The experienced coach made it clear that they will not underrate the Kenyan team because they know what to expect. “We lost to a Kenyan team Vihiga Queens in 2021 and now we shall work harder to see that the trophy remains in Ethiopia,” added the coach.

The Ethiopian side have won all the four matches they have played so far in the competition.

Hussein Habib, the Kenya Police Bullets assistant coach however says they know how to plan for the final match. “We started with a draw in this tournament, but we have worked hard to get to the final and shall play the final with caution,” he added.

It is the D-day as the semi-finals take centre stage today in the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifier 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This morning the 2022 champions Simba Queens from Tanzania will take to the field first to battle Kenya Police Bullets at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. The second match will see Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC facing Kawempe Muslim Ladies from Uganda.

Going into the final Simba Queens who boost of the quality and experienced players will take nothing to chance as their coach Juma Ramadhani Ngunda has made it clear they are here to win the trophy.

After winning two matches, drawing once and netting 10 goals, Simba Queens will expect their attack of Jentrix Shikangwa Milimu, Elizabeth Wambui and Vivian Aquino Corazone Odhiambo to shine where it matters most.

But Beldine Lilian Acheing Odemba, the Kenya Police Bullets head coach has also made it clear that they have prepared accordingly for the semi-final. “It is our first time to play in this tournament and we are happy to be in the semis. We know Simba Queens is an experienced side, but we have prepared for them,” added Odemba.

The Kenyan champions who only scored two goals in their three matches in the group stage will hope that their attack of Purity Anyetu and Rebecca Akinyi Okwaro find their scoring touch.

The second match promises to be yet another tight contest as the home side Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) who won all their group matches face the highest scoring side in the group stage of the tournament Kawempe Muslim Ladies.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE head coach has made it clear they must take their chances because the semi-final stage is very different. “My team is motivated to go all out and get a good result to qualify for the final,” added the coach. Senaf Wakuma Zenaf Demise who is one of the leading scorers together with Aregash Kalsa Tadesse will lead the CBE goal hunt.

Hadija Nandago who has also netted five goals in the tournament so far together with Agnes Nabukenya and skipper Phinah Nabulime are expected to play key roles for the Kawempe Muslim Ladies team. Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, the Kawempe Muslim Ladies coach says they have prepared accordingly for the semi-final because they know what to expect playing against a home side.

The play-off and final of the Zonal qualifier will take place on August 29^th at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. The qualifier attracted eight teams from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Djibouti.

The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) on August 24th, 2024 organised a Safeguarding Workshop at the Shitaye Suite Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The participants who attended the workshop were drawn from the eight teams participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifier 2024 and referees.

The participants were drawn from; Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan), Simba Queens (Tanzania), PVP Buyenzi Burundi), Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC, Kenya Police Bullets, Rayon Sports Women FC (Rwanda), Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC (Uganda) and FAD WFC from Djibouti as well as all Women referees officiating at the Zonal qualifier.

Safeguarding Officer and CECAFA Administrator, Veonica Lusichi awarding certificate of participation to Kenya Ploice Bullets head Coach, Beldine Odemba.

Marked by a series of interrractive safeguarding sessions the participating team players, officials and referees were taken through the existing FIFA safeguarding policy framework designed to protect women players and referees from various forms of abuse in Football.

The workshop was conducted by the CECAFA Administrator and Safeguarding Officer, Veronica Lusichi (Kenya), Jules Karangwa (Rwanda) and Youssuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager.

Participants received an overview of what is Safeguarding, its importance in football as well as FIFA safeguarding essentials that incorporate knowledge and insights into creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants.

Participants were also introduced to available FIFA safeguarding essentials online course that provides an opportunity to enroll online, joining the FIFA guardians family in protecting women and children in football.

Hadijah Nandago, Kawempe Mulsim Ladies’ leading scorer at the tournament says the workshop was very useful because it helped them get awareness on safeguarding. “We have benefited and hope to share with other people what we have learnt,” she added.