Twenty-four teams are competing in the second edition of the Total Energies E&P Mini Football League, which commenced in Nwoya on Saturday. The annual tournament was inaugurated at the Anaka Primary School playgrounds in Anaka Town Council, featuring 16 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams participating in a series of knockout competitions.
This year’s tournament has witnessed a rise in the number of female clubs from four in the previous edition to eight. For many female players, this presents an opportunity to advance their careers in professional football.
Irene Agenorwot, 20, a player and team captain of Queen Lioness Football Club, views this opportunity as a way for female players to realize their dreams of progressing in their football careers. She emphasizes that football provides an alternative to negative peer groups and reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancies.
“I play football because football helps me to take care of myself Instead of wasting time going to the bad peer group, I concentrate on playing football,” she said. Agenorwot is optimistic that her involvement in the game will open doors for her to join a prominent football club beyond the region.
The tournament began with a match between Stallion City Queens FC and Queen Lioness FC. Queen Lioness FC emerged victorious, defeating Stallion City Queens FC with a score of five goals to nil. Agenorwot, the winger for Queen Lioness FC, scored a hat trick, while Patricia Akello netted two goals, placing the team at the top of Group A.
Akello, during an interview with Uganda Radio Network, expressed her aspiration to play for the national team, She Cranes, leveraging the opportunity presented by her participation in the Total Energies E&P league. The 19-year-old, who dropped out of senior three, shares that the game has helped her focus on her personal life, and she is currently pursuing a tailoring course.
Caroline Namyalo, Total Energies E&P’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, explains that the tournament aims to foster and nurture football talents among the youth in regions of their operation. Namyalo believes that the increased participation of female teams in the tournament will inspire girls to embrace football and remain committed to their education.
“Women’s football has become very popular. We used to just have them doing opening games but this year Bulisa and Nwoya have fully fledged league, and we have eight teams playing. A year ago, the district had four teams. When the league started for women, we had eight teams already. I see us having sixteen like for the women,” says Namyalo.
She added “Women’s football is helping girls stay in school, they are fit, they get to exercise and get to be part of the team and stay in school because your teammates are in school and you don’t want to come out of the team.” Namyalo says that they have provided sports kits to all selected teams to facilitate their participation. Total Energies E&P is committed to continuously supporting sports development.
Geoffrey Charles Okello, the Nwoya East County Legislator who inaugurated the tournament, commends Total Energies E&P for the initiative, highlighting its role in nurturing talent among the district’s youth. In the first round of the men’s tournament, the Young Elephant Academy FC triumphed over the Eagles Soccer Club with a score of two goals to one in an exciting match.
Isaac Gum Peroom scored two goals for the Young Elephant Academy FC, placing the team at the top of Group C with three points. The Total Mini Football League is set to culminate in the final rounds on September 9. The winning male team will receive a trophy and cash prize of Shillings 6 million, while the victorious female team will receive a trophy and a cash prize of Shillings 3 million.
Total Energies E&P Mini Football League Kicks Off with Increased Female Participation
