Monicah Naswa: The nursing student who guided Elim White Ladies to Premier League promotion
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Reading Time: 5min | Fri. 26.06.26. | 16:16
Now, with Premier League football awaiting Elim White Ladies, Naswa hopes her story can inspire the next generation of girls who dream of succeeding both in the classroom and on the pitch
When the final whistle blew on Elim White Ladies' promotion playoff against Gor Mahia Queens, Monicah Naswa's emotions were impossible to contain.
Months of sacrifice, uncertainty and relentless hard work had culminated in a single moment that would forever change the history of the club.
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As teammates sprinted towards her in celebration, the Elim White Ladies captain allowed herself a brief moment to reflect on the journey that had brought them there.
"I thank God for the victory on that day," Naswa recalls. "When the final whistle went I was very happy. I saw my teammates running towards me. It meant a lot to me as a leader. It wasn't easy but we thank God."
Promotion to the FKF Women's Premier League was secured through a tense playoff against a highly-rated Gor Mahia Queens side.
Few outside the Elim camp gave them much of a chance, but inside the dressing room, belief never wavered.
"The playoff wasn't easy," says Naswa. "We had to believe in ourselves and maintain high level of discipline. Gor were superior but we trusted each other knowing that, with teamwork everything is possible. Our coaches knew what needed to be done and it is the skills they imparted in us that got us over the edge."
For Naswa, the achievement carries special significance.
As captain, she was entrusted with leading a squad made up of women from vastly different backgrounds and responsibilities.
"I am humbled and grateful," she says. "The team trusts me a lot and that's why they entrusted me with the leadership. We have mothers, breadwinners and students,like myself. It is through their strength that I managed to lead a successful campaign."
Yet, behind the celebrations lies a story of perseverance.
Like many teams operating outside the spotlight of elite football, Elim White Ladies have had to fight battles beyond the pitch.
Resources have often been scarce, injuries difficult to manage and logistical challenges a constant reality.
"Resources, always resources," Naswa says with a knowing smile. "Sometimes we would struggle to get transportation to away matches. We have mainly been held together by one person and when he lacks, the team struggles."
The challenges extended to player welfare.
"We don't have a team doctor to attend to injuries, so players stayed out longer than expected and that affected us. We also had to work on our mental strength and make everyone believe in the cause."
If leading a promotion-chasing football team was not demanding enough, Naswa has also been pursuing a nursing degree.
At one point, she feared returning to school would signal the end of her football career.
"It wasn't easy deciding to go back to school," she says. "I felt like my football career was over."
Instead of giving up on either dream, she built a routine around both.
"My day would start with training from 6am to 7:30am before heading to class until 5pm. As a trainee nurse, I've learnt to always treat what's urgent first before anything else."
The balancing act has required immense discipline, but also support from those around her.
Classmates helped by sharing notes and recorded lectures whenever football commitments made attendance impossible.
That support became particularly important during the week of the playoff against Gor Mahia Queens.
"That week I was doing my exams," she reveals. "The team declined to travel a day earlier for the match and chose to wait for me to finish my Friday exams so we could travel together."
It did not end there.
"After the playoff, they made sure I got back to school in good time for the two papers I had on Monday."
Even then, challenges remained. Nursing practicals often collided with football commitments, forcing her to navigate constantly changing schedules.
"There were times I attended training not knowing the school schedule had changed and ended up sitting practical exams without enough preparation. By God's grace, I always passed."
For many student-athletes, there comes a point when education and sport seem impossible to reconcile.
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Naswa admits she has faced those moments too.
"There are periods when I had to miss classes in order to train with the team and maintain team cohesion," she says.
Fortunately, the club embraced her dual ambitions rather than forcing her to choose.
"The team knew my timetable for classes, exams and attachments. They assured me they would help me balance both and true to their word, they did."
Perhaps it is no surprise that her nursing education has shaped the kind of captain she has become.
"In nursing school we are trained to listen and communicate with patients," she explains. "As a leader, I need to listen to my teammates. I don't need to panic or rush and I should always be ready to lend an ear to everyone."
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The discipline demanded in healthcare has also found its way into her football leadership.
"If you're told to check a patient's blood pressure at 6am, the routine has to be maintained. That discipline helps me in football as well."
Now, with Premier League football awaiting Elim White Ladies, Naswa hopes her story can inspire the next generation of girls who dream of succeeding both in the classroom and on the pitch.
"They need to strike a perfect balance because both are important," she says. "They shouldn't let anyone put them down. They should stay strong, stay positive and trust in God. With patience, everything will be okay."
For Catherine Naswa, promotion was never just about football. It was proof that ambition does not have to be limited to one path.
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By day she is a nursing student. By evening she is a football captain.
And after leading Elim White Ladies into the top flight, she is living proof that with discipline, sacrifice and belief, both dreams can coexist.