Play & Excel: From the Pitch to the Power of Voice

By the end of 2025, more than 200 girls have passed through the Play & Excel: Fostering Success through Sports initiative, and what they’ve gained goes far beyond football skills.

Through weekly Saturday training sessions, girls are building confidence, discipline, teamwork, and leadership while learning core football skills, including ball control, passing, dribbling, positioning, and collaboration. Their growth was proudly displayed during an exhibition match at the Government Secondary School, Narayi, where Team Blue defeated Team Yellow 5–1, a moment that showed parents just how far their daughters have come in confidence, unity, and determination.

One of our most powerful milestones came when 15 girls courageously shared their stories in a documentary, speaking openly about their journey from shyness to confidence. For many, it was their first time speaking publicly and in front of a camera, challenging gender stereotypes and showing their communities what is possible when girls are supported.

With the support of World Pulse, the initiative also hosted a meaningful meeting with parents at the training ground. The goal was simple but vital: to bring parents into the journey, highlight the health and career benefits of sports for girls, and openly discuss the cultural and social barriers that often keep girls from being active. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many parents expressed pride in the changes they had seen in their daughters, improvement in school, greater confidence, better communication and technical skills, and better behaviour at home. Most importantly, they committed to continuing their support, which has shown a huge improvement in how people think about women's inclusion in sports.

Beyond sports, each session integrates life-skills education. Girls participate in talks on health, hygiene, education, leadership, and well-being. In a session titled “My Voice, My Victory,” they practiced storytelling and public speaking while addressing fear, body shaming, and cultural bias. These holistic efforts are yielding strong results.

Play & Excel has grown into more than a programme, it is a movement that centers girls’ voices, challenges harmful norms, and proves that sport can be a powerful tool for social change.

Girls thrive when communities believe in them. We invite World Pulse members, partners, and allies to continue amplifying these stories, advocating for girls’ inclusion in sports, and supporting initiatives that create safe spaces for girls to grow, lead, and be seen. Together, we can ensure that every girl has the chance to play, speak, and excel.