By Muhammad Babur
LAHORE: FIFA referee Akhona Makalima said Pakistani girls have bright futures in football, I have found them hard-working and quick learners. Pakistan and South Africa have great potential to work together for the betterment of women football. She was talking at the closing ceremony of the international leadership course for women in sports which was completed successfully at the Government College University Lahore. South African FIFA-certified female referee Akhona Makalima conducted the International Women Leadership and Mentorship course organized by Galaxy Sports Academy in partnership with GCU Lahore. She thanked the Vice Chancellor Dr. Asghar Zaidi for providing state of the art facilities for the successful completion of the course.
The founder of Galaxy Sports Academy and GSMP Alumna class of 2016, Rabia Qadir is instrumental behind the idea of inviting GSMP’s sister to Pakistan and inspiring sportswomen of the country.
Through this course, they send a clear and loud message of putting women in key positions in sports organizations in Pakistan.
GSA partners with Government College University, a 156 years old educational institute for the sports leadership course in which national and international female football players, coaches, and sports administrators from different educational institutes participate, and learn about the importance of leadership and mentorship in sports.
In their sessions spread over five days, GSMP sisters Akhona and Rabia gave lectures on the importance of Talent Identification, Cyber Bullying, Sports as a tool for social change, How to become a football referee, branding and sponsorship, and safe spaces. After classroom sessions, Akhona took the participants to the ground for practical sessions and taught them how to make themselves physically and mentally strong to face the challenges.
In the closing ceremony, FIFA referee Akhona Makalima, GSA founder & international hockey player Rabia Qadir and Women Development Centre in charge Ms. Sumera distributed the certificates.
Through its GSMP sisterhood program, GSA is planning to bring more sisters to Pakistan to strengthen its base and empower more and more women. It will help them to take a lead and hold decision-making positions to bring gender equality in the sports department and national sports federations.
At the end of the course, an emotional storytelling session was held in which women shared their experiences about life and shared how they got the motivation from this course and will face the challenges rather than be quiet and sit at home.
During the course, a three-member delegation consisting of FIFA referee Akhona in accompanying by Founder GSA Rabia Qadir and President Muhammad Babur met with Vice Chancellor Dr. Asghar Zaidi and briefed him about the objective of the course.