Starlets aces to shine on ‘Global World Cup’

Some players of Kenya’s national women’s football team, Harambee Starlets, are among hundreds of women expected to show up for the third edition of the ‘Global Goals World Cup’ at Nairobi’s Impala Sports Club on Sunday.

Some 28 women’s teams drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia have confirmed participation at this day-long, five-a side tournament which targets to use the power of sport to unite and inspire individuals all over the world to take positive action on social issues.

This tournament will also provide an opportunity and road map towards ending gender inequality and “radically transforming” the lives of women and girls, the organizers said on Thursday.

Kenyan teams set to compete include Mombasa’s Soccer Divas Club, Team Wale Wazito from Kibera, Hawa Tako and Moving the Goalposts. Entrance to the venue of the games is free.

The football matches will be played by a different set of rules, with points awarded for the team that scores the most goals, engages the crowd most and dons the most creative dressing and style.

“We need women to be more involved in sports. It is healthy. Football is a male-dominated sport and we wish that women participate and have some fun while doing it,” said Majken Gilmartin, the chief executive officer and founder of Eir-soccer, official partners of the tournament, during an interview with Nation Sport on Thursday.

The Royal Danish Embassy, Safaricom, United nations Development Programme and the Save the Children agency are other official partners of this tournament.

The winning team will earn a spot in the global finals to be held in New York in September.