Rise Her Game: Revolutionizing Women’s Sports in Africa

Read Time:3 Minute, 42 Second

In a landmark initiative set to redefine the landscape of women’s athletics across the continent, Rise Her Game officially launches today. Powered by the Supreme Premier League (SPL), this groundbreaking program directly confronts deep-seated gender disparities in sports, aiming to transform it from an overlooked pastime into a thriving social and economic force and establish Africa’s most viable women’s sports economy-driven platform.

Rise Her Game is more than just a competition; it’s a holistic empowerment movement. By fusing elite athletic performance with comprehensive support, the initiative is crafting a new narrative for female athletes. This includes crucial provisions such as guaranteed player wages and securing national broadcasting deals, ensuring that women in sports are not only seen but also fairly compensated, protected, and professionally advanced.

Advertisements

“When we invest in women athletes, we don’t just change the game; we rewrite the rules,” states Syombua A. Kibue, Founder of SPL and Rise Her Game. “At Rise Her Game, we’re building a future where every girl with a dream sees a path, every talent finds its stage, and Africa’s sports legacy is shaped by fierce, unstoppable women who dare to rise.”

A significant challenge in women’s sports has been financial insecurity, with alarming statistics showing 42% of female athletes dependent on abusive partners and 68% abandoning sports by age 18 due to unpaid domestic burdens. Furthermore, women’s sports receive a mere 3% of the national sports budget. Rise Her Game tackles these injustices head-on through its Paycheck Revolution, guaranteeing wages for top-tier players. This crucial step removes the financial precarity that has historically sidelined thousands of talented girls. As highlighted by UN Women, economic empowerment is a powerful protective factor against gender-based violence (GBV), offering women the autonomy to escape abusive situations. The success of similar wage reforms in Morocco, which saw a 300% player retention, underscores the model’s effectiveness.

Allyship is also a cornerstone of the initiative. NPH, one of the founding companies, emphasizes, “Empowering women in sports isn’t just about fairness; it’s about unleashing Africa’s full potential by using smart interventions that have impact and safeguard.”

Rise Her Game is also redefining possibilities through its innovative tournament structures. The upcoming August launch will feature an inclusive football team composition, including 2 International Pros, 3 Kenyan Women’s Premier League (KWPL) stars, 3 National Super League (NSL) talents, and 3 Grassroots youth players. This vertical talent pipeline, coupled with prioritized elite coaching, accelerates professional transitions and fosters vital mentorship connections.

Looking ahead, the 3-Year Vision (2025–2027) for Rise Her Game is ambitious yet concrete. By 2027, the initiative plans to launch Kenya’s first professional women’s league, produce Africa’s first KES 10M/year female footballer, and expand operations across East Africa. This is not just a dream, but a meticulously planned blueprint for sustainable growth.

The initiative’s impact will be amplified through a captivating promo video set to launch soon, showcasing the compelling stories of Kenya’s often-forgotten stars – from mandazi-selling athletes to young mothers pursuing their match-day dreams, all united under the tagline “When she rises, we all do.” This visibility, bolstered by viral digital campaigns, TV specials, and strategic collaborations, aims to transform cultural resonance into commercial power.

“If we want women’s sports to thrive, we must treat it as a viable brand, not a charity case,” asserts Wairimu Nyathira, Founder for SPL and Rise Her Game. “Quality media, brand storytelling, and smart marketing are how we turn women’s football into a thriving sports economy.”

Rise Her Game seeks to create a cultural tsunami that meets economic power, elevating the profiles of Africa’s athletes. By aligning sports with policy, protection, and profit, it stands as the most exciting and scalable movement in African women’s sports today.

The public is invited to join further discussions at an upcoming online webinar on July 23rd, themed: “Shining a Light: Addressing the Underrepresentation of African Women in Sports.” This event will delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities for female athletes on the continent.

As the world accelerates the push for equity in sport, Kenya, through Rise Her Game, is not waiting to catch up; it’s leading the charge. “Excellence is a habit,” declares the Rise Her Game team, “and we’re building it daily.” The question remains: will you watch from the sidelines, or rise with them?