Sauda Abass, Lamu girl who broke barriers to secure football trial in France

Sauda Abass, a young female footballer from the island of Lamu, is a shining star in the world of football.

She has persevered in pursuing her dream of playing soccer at the highest levels despite cultural barriers and limited opportunities for women in Lamu.

Born in 1998, Sauda began playing football at the age of 8 in her family homestead where she could only play with boys.

During this time though, the 25-year-old was not allowed to play soccer anywhere outside her homestead due to cultural restrictions that bar girls from engaging in outdoor activities.

Her determination to play soccer pushed Sauda to continue practicing regularly. Her dream to openly play soccer became a reality when she joined a female football team at Wiyoni Secondary School as a striker.

 She later played for a county team after completing her O-levels.

Despite her determination to break through in the sport, she encountered a lot of challenges along the way. Many in her community did not understand why she would want to play soccer instead of focusing on traditional feminine roles.

She would also be considered an outlaw for training with men. According to the culture of people from Lamu, women are not allowed to mix with men.

Her coach, Mohamed Ali notes that it is her determination that has made her succeed in the sport compared to her female counterparts.

“Sauda is very hardworking and tough, she sometimes outshines men when she plays with them. It is her determination that will one day make her a celebrated female footballer in Kenya and beyond,” Ali said.

Ali is not the only one that spotted Sauda’s talent and determination to succeed in football. A few years ago, a French team spotted her talent and invited her to trials in Europe where she spent a year.

Her time in France was, however, cut short when she was forced to return to Lamu to take care of her late mother who was ailing at the time.

''I got a chance to go for trials at La Berriconne in France where I got a lot of experience in football. I had to return to the country when my late mum got ill, but that didn't stop me from chasing my dream'' said Sauda.

She is not keen to inspire young girls to venture into the sport regardless of their cultural backgrounds and limited opportunities.

“My dream is to see young girls do well in sports. They have started joining me in the game despite the barriers they encounter,'' she said.

On the other hand, Sauda remains optimistic that one day, she will get an opportunity to represent the country on an international stage.