Cherish muscular beauties in men’s shoes

DAR ES SALAAM: WOMEN’s football now dictates terms in Tanzania, and its dominance in terms of increase in number of players and fans looks to be a big blow to netball, the once the women’s favourite sport.

As we celebrate Women’s Day today, football has ceased to be a men’s affair with Simba-Young Africans showdown seen even in the women’s football.

But this year’s Women’s Day celebration is fruitful to Yanga Princess as they are the Samia Cup Trophy holders following their 3-0 victory over JKT Queens in a final game held at Aga Khan grounds in Ngaramtoni, Arusha Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.

Simba, their traditional rivals, finished third overall after seeing off Fountain Gate with a 2-1 victory at the same venue.

Women football now occupies a special place in the Tanzanian sports arena where it has traditionally been linked to notions of toughness, manliness, and hegemonic masculinity.

For over a decade now, women’s football has witnessed expedient growth in the number of women playing football, and this has led to much debate related to the positioning of the game in contemporary society.

Through their very participation in the game, the women can be seen to be challenging notions of male hegemony. However, their acceptance of the male game as being more important, on other way round it kicks netball out of the ground.

Tanzanian women, like many others global-wise, suffer from an ‘image problem’ which can and does lead to tension both on and off the pitch.

But Yanga Princess Head coach Edna Lema has broken on what people see the female football players saying dressing like men does not determine a female footballer’s capability on the field.

As the world marks International Women’s Day, Lema urged female players to reflect on their identity and embrace their reality.

“Playing men’s football does not mean we should dress like them; we will still be called women. As we approach Women’s Day, let’s assess ourselves and change if necessary,” she said.

Lema acknowledged that while some players dress according to their upbringing and personal identity, women’s football has evolved significantly over the years. She noted that many female players now embrace a more traditionally feminine style of dress.

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Beyond appearance, she highlighted major improvements in the sport, including the increasing number of female players securing professional contracts abroad and earning a good income.

Some of the notable Tanzanian players excelling internationally include Clara Luvanga (Al Nasr), Aisha Masaka (Brighton, England), Opa Clement, Julietta Singano, and Enekia Kasongo (playing in Mexico)

Lema encouraged parents to support young female footballers, emphasizing that football is now a career that sustains many lives.

JKT Queens head coach Esta Chabruma shared a different perspective, saying that a player’s dressing style should not be a major concern.

“How female players present themselves is often discussed. People sit with them and explain how a girl should dress, but in the end, it depends on the individual,” she explained.

Chabruma also urged men not to judge players based on their masculine appearance but instead to engage with them positively.

“The most important thing is how they carry themselves. On Women’s Day, we should celebrate ourselves as girls playing football, which is traditionally associated with boys. Do not fear us; despite our appearance, we remain women,” she added.

Veteran sports journalist Saada Akida noted that in many foreign women’s teams, such as Egypt’s Al Ahly, players maintain a distinctly feminine appearance.

Reflecting on the 2022 CECAFA Women’s Tournament, Akida recalled that the Ethiopian team stood out because most of their players had braided hair, emphasizing their femininity.

“Unlike in Tanzania, where very few players present themselves as women, for example, Fatma Mustapha ‘Fatma Densa’—many others dress and carry themselves in a way that could make one mistake them for men,” Akida said.

According to Akida, this can limit players’ opportunities, including in their personal lives.

“Some players miss out on opportunities like marriage. A potential partner might say, ‘I can’t marry them because they look like my fellow man,’” she concluded.