MATHARE YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION

“Being a referee really boosted my confidence and inspired me to aim higher in life... I became the first woman from MYSA to referee a Kenya Premier League match – it was such an honour for me and for all MYSA girls.”

Ever since I was a girl, I have loved sport and known the benefits that come with taking part in it. I joined MYSA when I was 13 years old, inspired by this passion. Most of my friends took part in MYSA activities already, and that made me even more curious about how I could get involved and benefit from the projects that were on offer.

I loved playing football but I was also keen to get involved in other MYSA opportunities. I trained as a peer counsellor and worked with young people living in my zone to sensitize them on issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness and how to stay safe. When I was just 17 I was elected Secretary of the Zonal League Committee!

But my real love was refereeing – especially at boys’ matches as they were often surprised to see a girl in charge! Being a referee really boosted my confidence and inspired me to aim higher in life. I quickly progressed through MYSA’s referee training and soon reached the higher levels. When I was 21, I became the first woman from MYSA to referee a Kenya Premier League match – it was such an honour for me and for all MYSA girls. Now I am a referee instructor and love teaching referees in MYSA and across the country.

I joined the MYSA staff in 2000 and was promoted to Sports Director in 2011. I am responsible for a huge range of activities, from supporting the registration process at the start of the year, to organising league matches, workshops, tournaments and Zonal meetings. I also oversee all 16 MYSA working zones, making sure that activities are going ahead as planned. MYSA provides opportunities for its staff as well as its members – for example, I had the opportunity to train as a referee’s assessor, so now I evaluate referees’ performances and highlight areas for improvement in order to promote quality refereeing in the organisation. My work in this role led to my appointment as a Match Commissioner for the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).

I attribute all my success to MYSA for believing in women and giving all young people the opportunity to excel in what they enjoy.