Grassroots football in Kwale helps girls tackle teenage pregnancies and child marriages

On a dusty football pitch in Ukunda, cheers rang out as girls in colourful jerseys chased the ball with determination.

For many, the game was more than sport—it was a lifeline, offering a chance to escape cycles of teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and early marriages that have long weighed down communities in Kwale County.

For years, cultural and social barriers confined girls to limited roles, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and with few opportunities, but grassroots initiatives like the Diani Tigers Sports Organisation are changing that.

Football is becoming a tool of empowerment, giving girls not only the chance to play but also to lead, learn and dream beyond societal expectations.

At a two-day girls’ football tournament held at the Ukunda showground in Msambweni constituency, six teams competed in a spirited display of talent and resilience. Among them was 17-year-old Fatma Yawa, a midfielder with the Diani Tigers, who said football had kept her focused on education.

“I am grateful for being part of Diani Tigers because when we play football, we avoid early pregnancies and drugs. When you step into the field and concentrate on the game, your mind is free from negative thoughts,” Fatma said after the match.

She added, “I feel proud seeing girls take leadership roles in Kwale, even as our governor often encourages us.”

Embrace sports

Grace Anzanzi of the Al-Walidayn team also urged more young girls to embrace sports as a safeguard for their future.

“I would like to advise young girls like me to participate in games like this so that we can avoid early pregnancies and engaging in drug abuse,” she said.

Organisers noted that the tournament was not only about winning trophies but also about shaping character and creating safe spaces for girls.

David Sila, an official from Diani Tigers, said the initiative had faced resistance due to cultural and religious views discouraging girls from playing football.

“We have had challenges because of coastal traditions and beliefs that say a girl should not play football. But we have been able to educate the community and show them that football is a talent. If we nurture it, a girl can join bigger teams, even international ones,” Sila said.

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• child marriages
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Some players came from the Al-Walidayn Girls Rescue Centre, which shelters survivors of gender-based violence. Its manager, Hawa Mwangi, stressed the importance of such tournaments, especially during school holidays.

“This competition benefits many girls because when they are engaged in sports, they stay away from harmful activities like drugs, early marriages, and pregnancies,” Hawa said.

She added, “We are grateful to the county government for supporting girls and to Al-Walidayn trustees for giving these young women a safe space to grow their talents and education.”

For the young players, the football pitch is more than just a sporting ground—it is a classroom of life skills, discipline, and hope.

With continued investment in youth development, Kwale is sending a powerful message: through sports, daughters of the community can rise, lead, and shape a brighter future.