KCCA FC has officially announced their partnership with Kampala Queens, the reigning champions of the Women’s Super League. Similarly, reports indicate that Vipers SC, the champions of the Uganda Premier League, has reached an agreement to collaborate with Wakiso Hills Women’s Football Club as their female team.
Many may be curious about the reasons behind these decisions made by the men’s clubs. The shift in approach is actually a result of recent changes implemented by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Earlier this month, CAF introduced new requirements for clubs seeking to participate in the 2023–24 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions.
Among the crucial stipulations listed, having a women’s football team has become a mandatory criterion for acquiring the license. CAF’s aim is to empower women and promote women’s football, and thus, any men’s team without a women’s team will be deemed ineligible to compete in CAF inter-club competitions starting from this season.
To comply with these regulations, clubs have the option to affiliate with an existing women’s first-team club. Consequently, it has become necessary for both Vipers and KCCA to forge partnerships with one of the women’s Super League teams in order to obtain the license.
In the upcoming season, Vipers will represent Uganda in the CAF Champions League, while KCCA will participate in the Confederation Cup.
This new direction signifies a positive step towards fostering women’s football and ensuring greater inclusion within the realm of African club competitions.
