Supporting Girls Sports in Guinea Bissau
I RELOCATED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO MY ANCESTRAL HOMELAND OF GUINEA BISSA TO HELP DEVELOP THE COUNTRY THROUGH SPORTS.
I met these amazing girls and learned their triumphs and struggles. Last year, their first year, they made it to the championship but lost. Many of the girls play on the national teams for Guinea Bissau but receive no support. Now they need funding for uniforms, shoes, tents, travel and other equipment.
On March 10, they will celebrate their one year anniversary. Help me give them some of the equipment and opportunity they really need. Please donate what you can.
MY RECENT VISIT WITH THE TEAM
January 27, 2022 - Enterremento, Bissau, Guinea Bissau
The Sociedade Desportiva da Guiné-Bissau (S.D.G.B) received the Interim President of the Federação de Natação da Guiné-Bissau, Siphiwe Baleka to display their new uniforms. Mr. Baleka visited the girls futbol team on January 16 to give them a motivational speech. The team then went on to win their latest match 4 - 1.
“Maybe what I said helped them,” ’joked Mr. Baleka.
During his previous visit, Mr. Baleka learned that the team was not receiving much support from its federation. He then donated the money to purchase the new uniforms.
“I really want to help these girls. They lost the championship last year and I know they can win it this year,” Mr. Baleka said with confidence. “I will do what I can to help them do their best.”
Mr. Baleka told the girls that their life in Guinea Bissau presented them with both advantages and disadvantages.
“In America, life is much easier. The girls are not as tough as you are,” he told them. “You are strong and very good athletes because life in Guinea Bissau is much more physical. That is your advantage. Of course access to resources, equipment, and opportunities to travel are your disadvantages,” said Mr. Baleka.. “Do your best on the field and I will do my best off the field to help find resources for you.”
Coach Sanha Nharo explained that one of the challenges for the team is a cultural challenge. Girls are discouraged from playing sports because going to school and taking care of the home are the priorities. “You have to have a very close relationship with the parents to convince them to let their daughters travel and spend the night somewhere,” Coach Sanha said.
Coach Sanha also explained that the team struggles because of the poor organization of the league. Every year we have to figure out who and where we can play and what color uniforms each team has. According to Coach Sanha, if you travel to play a team and you have the wrong color jersey, you must forfeit the match because you can’t have two teams wearing the same colors. That’s a tall order for teams that don’t have sponsors and multiple uniforms.
There are other challenges, too. The team wants to buy tents because they don’t have the money to pay for hotels when they travel in the country to play teams in other regions.
To help the team this year, Mr. Baleka set up a GoFundMe campaign. All money goes to the team.
