Film Forges Links with Women Footballers in Cardiff and Zanzibar

A friendship link has been forged between Cardiff City LFC and a women’s football team from Zanzibar – thanks to a documentary film directed by a lecturer at the University of Wales, Newport.

Florence Ayisi’s film, ‘Zanzibar Soccer Queens', which focuses on the lives of a team of strong-willed Muslim women determined to better their lives and define new identities through playing football, is being premiered at the Black Film Festival held at Chapter Cinema, Canton, Cardiff on Friday 5th October.

“The idea of the link between the two clubs is to exchange ideas between players on their way of life and culture from two totally different parts of the world,” explained Michele Adams, the team coach for Cardiff City LFC, who is pictured right with the Zanzibar team’s coach Nassra J. Mohammed .

“The Cardiff women hope to support their counterparts in Africa by donating kit and equipment and are asking players and friends to donate outgrown football shirts, shorts, tracksuits, trainers and boots to send out to the youngsters and women in Zanzibar.”

Commenting on the impact her film has made, Florence, who is originally from Cameroon but now lives in Cardiff, said, “I made this film because I wanted to present a constructive view and positive images of African women’s lives. I admired the women’s passion, strength, and courage to follow their football dreams beyond the cramped borders of gender lines and cultural expectations despite limited facilities and oppositions.”

The Zanzibar team’s coach Nassra J. Mohammed recently visited Cardiff to meet up with the Cardiff girls when they presented her with two sets of kits to take back for her team in Zanzibar.