Kawempe Muslim football club return to Caf Women’s Champions League action on Thursday, November 5 against Ghana side, Ampem Darkoa.
Both teams won their opening group B fixtures in Egypt, where the 8-team tournament is being held this year. Ampem started off with a dominant 5-1 win over USFAS Bamako from Mali, while Kawempe shocked the continent with an impressive 3-2 win over the tournament’s defending champions, AS FAR Rabat from Morocco.
It is a result that surprised many, and Kawempe, who are clearly underdogs at the stage, this being the first time they are playing at that level, intend to keep it that way to beat the odds.
Coach Ayub Kiyingi said that being at this stage for the first time may have suggested to some that they were no bodies. But when one focuses on the cause, they can do extraordinary things.
“Before the tournament, I told the team that we must not be worried because it is football that we are going to play, and we have done that for a long time now, and therefore, there was no need to be scared.”
It seemed like Kiyingi’s pep talk had fallen on deaf ears, considering that his side conceded within six minutes after kick-off. But Kiyingi said that the team regrouped quickly and played very well from then on.
He added: “The most important aspect about this team, which is crucial to succeed anywhere in life, is belief. Once you believe that you can achieve something, nothing will stop you.”
Indeed, to come from a goal down, and then win 3-2 highlighted the remarkable spirit that these young girls of Kawempe have. It is a facet they have built over time. They won their sixth league title since the Fufa Women’s Super League inception in the 2013/14 season.
They edged out She Corporates by one point, following a total haul of 52 points. While that seemed like a win on the knife-edge, Kawempe went on to win the Cecafa Women’s Club Championship in Kigali, Rwanda, after they beat all and sundry in the five games they played.
They scored 17 goals, and conceded none, which proved to be an emphatic statement. Perhaps, owing to this form, Kawempe’s display in Egypt has probably been long time coming.
Notably, they are the one team in Women’s football that have the longest-serving coach in Kiyingi. He has been handling the team since 2001. This means that he has acquired a lot of experience, which does not count for little in the team’s mechanics.
Right now, Kiyingi’s focus is on ensuring that his team do not get carried away, but remain focused on the goal. He said that qualifying for the semi-finals (a win over Ampem would guarantee that) of the Caf Champions League would be tremendous.
He believes that they can achieve that by respecting opponents and working more than them while on the field. What a story they could write about women’s football in Uganda, and the gallant steps it is making.
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