ROBINSON KUNDA, Lusaka
LIVERPOOL Ladies Football Club players have urged their Zambian counterparts to aim at developing their careers and aspire to play in top leagues in the world.
The players, who were speaking during the welcoming ceremony, hosted by Standard Chartered Bank in Lusaka on Thursday night, said women football, could be a source of income if taken seriously.
The three players Kate Longhurst, Rosie White and Martha Harris are in the country as part of the Standard Chartered Bank Global Goal Girls project which seeks to promote women participation in football.
Midfielder Longhurst said women football is becoming competitive and it is a livelihood for many girls across the world.
Defender Harris said Zambia’s women footballers should remain focused if they are to compete at a higher level.
And Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development Vincent Mwale said Government has prioritised women and girls participation in a sport of their choice.
Mwale said government has since formed a technical working group on women sport.
The minister hailed the partnership between his ministry and Standard Chartered Bank in developing sport.
“In this regard I commend the ladies from Liverpool Ladies Football Club for rising up to the challenge of football as this is one sport that has been perceived to only be for men. Your good examples ladies are good motivators for young girls that aspire to become footballers,” he said.
And Standard Chartered Bank head of financial markets Kabwe Mwaba said the organisation’s sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club is a key component of the bank’s brand and marketing activity.
Mwaba said Liverpool Ladies Football Club is a formidable team playing in the highest division in England.
“Our sponsorship demonstrates standard Chartered Bank’s commitment to gender equality, to champion girls’ as powerful agents of change in society. We need to refute stereotypes about girls globally,” he said.
National Organisation of Women in Sport Physical Activity and Recreation (NOWSPAR) executive director Matilda Mwaba said her organisation is committed to ensuring more women participate in sport.
The three Liverpool players yesterday conducted a soccer clinic at National Sports Development Centre in Lusaka as part of the Goal Girls Project.