KHARTOUM — Sudan's first ever women's club football league kicked off Monday, with two teams clashing at a Khartoum stadium as crowds of fans and diplomats cheered.
The championship, which involves 21 clubs, would have seemed unlikely just months ago when long time ruler Omar Al-Bashir was in power.
The first club match was played between Tahadi and Difaa in the capital on Monday. Matches are also scheduled for Madani, Al-Obeid and Kadugli.
"Civilian rule, Civilian rule," chanted the crowd as the first match between the two teams began.
Crowds clapped and whistled, with many also chanting "Kandaka, Kandaka," referring to ancient Nubian queens.
The match was attended by Sudan's new Minister of Sport Wala Essam and some Sudanese and foreign diplomats.
"This is a historical game not only for women's sport but for Sudan," Essam told reporters.
"We will give special attention to women's sport and women's football."
After the match ended the players from both teams expressed their joy at what they said was something unimaginable a year ago.
"Before the revolution in Sudan, my plan was to go abroad to play, but now I can play in my homeland," Asma Abubakr, wearing her club Tahadi's green jersey, told AFP.
For Juan Essam of club Difaa it was a "dream" that had come true.
"What happened today is simply fantastic," said Essam.
"For the first time I played inside a stadium. It had been my dream to play in a stadium."
The start of the women's club football league comes amid expectations that the current three-year transition period will see liberal policies implemented across the country, including measures to promote freedom of speech, women's rights, sport and arts.
Sudan joined FIFA in 1948. In 1957, Sudan co-founded the Confederation of African Football with Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa at a meeting in Khartoum.
A new joint civilian-military ruling body, called the sovereign council, is governing the country for a transition period of 39 months.
The 11-member council has six civilians including two women. — AFP
