I always recall 2009 as the year when opportunities opened up for me. This was the year I first joined Moving The Goalposts. My name is Christine Rehema Kaingu. I live with my parents and I have been playing football since I was in class four.
I was attracted by the stories I heard in the community of how girls’ lives were transformed through playing football in Moving The Goalposts. Not all families were happy that girls’ lives were being transformed in my community.
They believed that football could only be played by boys. I also knew of some of my neighbours who would not allow their daughters to play football because they had hidden agendas. Some of them wanted to marry them off and others wanted to take them to nearby towns to work as domestic workers.
One day, I saw one of them discouraging my mother when she saw me in a group of girls playing football and I knew I had to persuade my parents for them to allow me join Moving The Goalposts. My parents have never regretted giving the opportunity to join the organization. This is because of numerous opportunities that they have seen me get compared to other girls.
In the year 2015, I was selected to be trained as a football coach in one of the residential trainings organized by Moving The Goalposts. The skills enabled me to offer coaching sessions to fellow players and made them qualify for the divisional championship; an annual event organized by Moving The Goalposts in November.
I was later trained as peer educator and had a role to pass sexual and reproductive health information to fellow girls in my community. This has made me to be considered as a role model by my peers and younger girls because I always give them advice on reproductive health issues. I have improved my leadership skills, become more courageous and confident.
I was selected as one of the MTG United team and got opportunities to play and travel to many places for tournament including the recent Global Goals World Cup. Football has made me to be who Iam today and my parents are happy because Iam a very good role model.
