By Julius Gale
JUBA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- For decades, women's football has always been held back due to cultural barriers that often discourage females from taking part in sports activities.
In South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, things are even more difficult for female soccer enthusiasts as most of the cultures in the east African country tend to be negative towards women's participation in football, which until now is dominated by men.
But a new generation of girls has embarked on an ambitious journey to break the existing cultural barriers through football.
"I have been canned very many times for playing football. I cannot count," said Sunday Jennifer, captain of Young stars FC, a women's football team from the south-eastern town of Torit.
Now leading her team in the ongoing inaugural South Sudan Women Cup, the 17-year-old said she encountered several setbacks while trying to play the sport she loves as a young girl.
And most of the problems came from her father who did not want her to play football at all.
"I started playing football when I was eight years old at school because I loved football from young age. But my parents did not accept me to play football saying football is not good for girls," Jennifer said.
"My father used to say that football is not good for the ladies, but I refused to listen to him. I used to escape with my brothers to play. They liked me playing football and that even encouraged me more," she added.
But with persistence, Jennifer was able to break free from her father's repressive rules, and she is now hoping to represent her country in international tournaments.
"My father surrendered restricting me in 2016 and left me to play football," Jennifer said. "He was very happy when I told him that I will be representing my state in Juba."
"One day when I retire from football, I want to tell my story to my children and inspire them to play football when they have the skills," Jennifer stressed.
"I will encourage other girls that even if your parents are refusing you to play football, tell them that is your talent and they should give you the chance. Football is also allowing us to have friendship and create a relationship among ourselves as South Sudanese."
Like Jennifer, many girls across South Sudan are now taking up football despite the various cultural hurdles they are yet to overcome.
"When I was young, my parents used to buy me football and I play with my brothers and I have learnt to play professionally," said Doris Odapai, who captains Villa United FC, another Women's team from Yambio town in South-western South Sudan.
Despite her parents' relentless support towards her soccer career, the 18-year-old said she faced resistance from the community because there were few girls playing football in her village.
At one movement, Odapai said she was removed from the pitch and forcefully taken for gender test to confirm whether she is female. But that shameful counter did not stop the mother of one child from dreaming big.
"I want to play outside South Sudan and also play for my national team so that I get known in the world," Odapai said.
"I'm pleading to parents to allow their children, both boys and girls to participate in football because it is a good form of human development and source of socialization," she stressed.
Marina Christopher Arkangelo, chairlady of Women's Football at the country's football governing body, the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) agreed that female soccer had in fact trailed behind their men counterparts mainly due to lack of resources and cultural believes that often bar females from participating in sports.
"For very long time, women's football has suffered because parents and caregivers do not allow girls to play football, but today shows that south Sudan can excel in the international women's league," Arkangelo said.
She said the recently launched women's league seeks to popularise female soccer in the country and in turn act as platform to identify potential players for the national team.
"Let our people, families and government stand with us and support these young girls to develop their skills and move forward in the football field," she added.
SSFA President Francis Amin said the successful launch of the country's first-ever women's league indicates that women's football is gaining roots, adding that the SSFA has put mechanisms in place to build women's football in South Sudan.
"I want to tell our fellow men that they should allow the ladies to enjoy their freedom and join whatever sport they want to play because women are key components in the development of our country," Amin said.
