Excitement as Caf set to launch women's Champions League

The official announcement of the Caf's Women's Championship League being launched in 2021 has been received positively by women's football teams’ stakeholders in Kenya. 
 
Vihiga Queens coach Alex Alumirah has told Nation Sport that the confirmation is the good news both women's teams’ coaches and players needed to hear especially during these uncertain times where sporting activities have not yet resumed in the country due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

 "We are extremely excited about this milestone women football in Africa has made. We are crossing our fingers hoping that when the format or guidelines come out, they will consider giving the local clubs the opportunity for exposure and intense competitions outside their usual local opponents,” said Alumirah. 

Alumirah's charges have dominated the Kenya Women's Premier League for three years straight and have continued to produce some of the key players in the national team, Harambee Starlets, who are currently the reigning champions of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa).

The western Kenya based team has produced the likes of striker Cynthia Shilwatso who was part of the squad that helped Kenya clinch the 2019 CECAFA title and is currently awaiting to complete her move to Spanish Side EDF Logrono on a three-year deal and Lilian Adera, who played in the historic first ever AWCON in 2016 where Kenya lost in the group stages.

But will Vihiga Queens be up for the challenge when the chance to compete in a continental league is given to them? Will they be able to live up to the glory of their male counterparts from the Kenya Premier League Champions Gor Mahia? 

 Alumirah expressed that this is a wakeup call especially on the players side to step up their training and staying ready in case they are asked to play in the coveted continental competition that will see them face some of the best women sides in Africa including Uganda’s women’s local league reigning champions UCU Lady Cardinals, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns Women and Rwanda''s AS Kigali. 

 "With the local season being cancelled and we as coaches having no physical contact with the players in training, it's been difficult to keep the players in check because we cannot virtually measure the intensity and time put in the exercise programs that we offer, but I’m hoping that their fitness will still be in check once we get back to normalcy,” he said.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice president Doris Petra, who was among those that sat in the workshop held on Tuesday via a video conference, that eventually came up with the strategic plan called on CAF to give sponsorship to the women teams.

“We seriously discussed Caf funding the women’s team, since we all know unlike their male counterparts, women teams’ continuously face financial difficulties hence it will be encouraging if CAF sourced for sponsorship in the first level,” said Petra.

CAF is implementing a four-year women’s football strategic plan for Africa, which was launched in Collaboration with FIFA last November in Egypt.

CAF Champions League is a money spinning competition with teams set to earn millions depending on how far they go in the tournament.

Gor Mahia have cumulatively earned Sh100 million for competing in the continental competitions for the past five seasons. 

The tournament will also expose the girls to the world stage with most matches expected to be aired on TV.