Kenya has produced some outstanding football players, like Victor Wanyama, Michael Olunga and Doreen Nabwire.
However, nothing is known about Nabwire, the first woman to play professional football in Europe.
Nabwire, who was born in Ngomongo to a family of six, started playing football on the streets of Nairobi’s Mathare slum.
She followed in the footsteps of her older brothers and sister, who shared her enthusiasm for the game.
At her early age and brimming with promise, Nabwire was spotted by some players who informed her about the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), which had a scheme that empowered young people via football.
She wanted to play for Mathare United’s women’s team, but her mother wouldn’t have it. At the time, few people were open to the concept of girls or women playing football.
Nabwire tried everything, from performing her chores on time to organising a group of friends to go plead with her mother to let her play, but the answer was always the same—no!
Her father, who had previously played football, did not believe that the sport was sufficient for his daughter.
However, both parents succumbed to their daughter’s pressure and became her biggest supporters.
In 1998, Nabwire was called for trials and was selected for the North Villas MYSA team that will compete in the Norway Cup.
She became a regular on the squad, captaining it in the 2000 and 2001 tournaments. She was later absorbed into Mathare’s senior women’s team.
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In 2006, Nabwire won the first street football World Cup in Berlin, Germany, representing Kenya. She was chosen as Kenya’s Football For Hope Ambassador in 2007.
Nabwire’s worldwide breakthrough occurred when she met Wilfried Lemke, an adviser to the German President, Werder Bremmen.
She was recommended to Lemke by the then-German Ambassador to Kenya.
Spotting her talent, the scout promised her that if she passed the upcoming trials in Bremen, he would help her move and stay there.
The outstanding performance facilitated her transition to the German side. On foreign land, she maintained her form, scoring 13 goals in her debut season and winning the Golden Boot.
In 2010, Nabwire joined FC Zwolle in the Netherlands, where she made her debut and scored in her second appearance.
While with the club, she enrolled in coaching classes and earned the UEFA C coaching licence. She went to Kenya and became a player coach for MOYAS football club, where he helped them win the Kenya Super 8 League.
Nabwire later joined Matuu FC in 2012 and won the Kenya Women’s Premier League. She signed with German club FC Koln in November 2013.
Unfortunately, a knee injury cut short her spectacular career in Europe. She returned to the nation and decided to become a manager.
Nabwire was the Harambee Starlets’ squad manager and in 2016, she led them to their maiden Africa Cup qualification.
She is now the Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) Deputy Competition Manager.
Notably, Nabwire is the elder sister of Eric Yohanna, who plays for the Harambee Stars while working for a Swedish club, as well as Christine Nafula, who also plays in Sweden.
Her older brothers, Felix Oucho and Anthony Kadudu, have played on various local teams.
