By James Ahela
England’s 2-1 win over Germany on Sunday night may appear as a normal result in any football match but it cuts deeper than what meets the eye.
Germany’s dominance in the women Euro championships has just been reduced once again. Holding 62% of the European women titles, Germany moved to the finals to extend their dominance further.
It’s the first time England won the European competitions having lost to Sweden on post-match penalties 39 years ago.
The women team’s win put smiles onto the faces of over 87,000 fans in the iconic Wembley stadium and millions other supporters throughout the world.
In the same stadium last year Italy beat England men’s team to win Euro 2020 competitions leaving home fans disappointed and the women’s win seem to exert confidence in women football and attract more support towards women football.
For the first time Germany lost a women’s Euro finals having won all eight finals they have been to being the most decorated European nation in the competitions.
In another first occasion, South Africa beat stubborn hosts Morocco to lift Africa women cup of nations a fortnight ago.
In the same tournament, it was the first time in history that Nigeria finished fourth having previously performed exceptionally.
South Africa have had previously lost other four finals before rising high on the fifth final to become the third other African nation to ever win the competition behind Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
Having produced the first club to win the continental club competitions South Africa extended their performance in nation’s competitions.
Kenya Women Premier League
These first time events are indications of significant growth in the women football arena, a growth that seen internationally and locally.
Closer home, having been in the division one league for eight years it’s the first time MTG ladies team earned promotion to the women premier league. The team is made up of several teenage girls look forward to good performance in the experienced-teams league.
It’s for the first time that Kibera girls’ soccer women’s team clinched the overall division one title having beat zone B side Royal starlets.
Kibera who returned to the premier league after being relegated in the 2020-2021 season were the only side of the six teams relegated the same season to return to the premier league.
The five others still in division one leagues include Makolanders, Mathare, Eldoret Falcons, Oserian and SEP Oyugis.
Royal Starlets are joining the women premier for the first time since their inception a couple of years ago. It’s for the first time that Trans Nzoia County will have two teams in the women premier league.
It is for the first time that the North rift region is having a women’s regional league. The competition has attracted fifteen teams competition is eminent.
Over 80 per cent of women’s teams in Kenya are less than a decade old, competitions coming up in various levels and surprise teams emerging.
Schools games are returning for the first time in post Covid-19 era and more first time surprises are expected to come up.
