Super 8 ladies cup top scorer on football's power to open doors
Reading Time: 5min | Wed. 24.06.26. | 22:01
Representing ProActive Legends, scoring five goals and finishing as the tournament's leading scorer are achievements she will cherish
Five goals, a top scorer's award and a place in the final would ordinarily be enough to define a successful tournament for any attacking midfielder.
Yet for Gor Mahia Queens star Rael Kamanda, the recently concluded Super 8 Ladies Cup in Mombasa represented something much bigger than individual accolades.
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The attacking midfielder was one of the standout performers at the tournament, finishing as the leading scorer with five goals while helping ProActive Legends (PAL) reach the final.
Although PAL ultimately fell to Equity Queens on penalties after a goalless draw in the championship match, Kamanda leaves the Coast with memories that extend far beyond the football pitch.
For the Nairobi-based player, the tournament was as much about empowerment, networking and personal development as it was about competition.
"It was an impressive effort from me," Kamanda says when reflecting on her goal-scoring exploits. "The tournament however meant more to me than just the goals. It was an opportunity for me to be part of a platform that empowers women."
That sentiment captures the essence of what the Super 8 Ladies Cup sought to achieve.
While football provided the attraction, the event also created a space where women from different backgrounds could come together, share experiences and create opportunities that may influence their futures both within and beyond sport.
For Kamanda, who travelled from Nairobi to Mombasa for the competition, the experience offered far more than ninety minutes on the pitch.
"I built my confidence more and got the opportunity to interact with people who may in future help advance my career both on and off the pitch," she explains.
Those interactions proved particularly valuable as players, coaches, organisers and stakeholders gathered under one roof.
Such settings are often rare in women's football, making every opportunity to network and exchange ideas all the more important.
The journey to Mombasa also allowed Kamanda to expand her football family.
"I travelled all the way from Nairobi to Mombasa and built new friends and connections from fellow players, coaches and tournament organisers," she says.
"This is good for me and all the players who showed up because these present interactions may in future come in handy."
It is a perspective that highlights one of the often-overlooked benefits of tournaments of this nature.
Beyond medals and trophies, they create relationships and networks that can lead to mentorship, career opportunities and support systems that players can rely on throughout their journeys.
Kamanda believes such opportunities are particularly important for young girls who aspire to build careers through football.
Having benefited from the game herself, she understands the transformative power sport can have on a person's life.
"Young girls should know that anything is possible if they believe in themselves and work hard," she says. "Football is more than just a game. It can open other doors."
She points to her own experience as evidence.
"Myself for example, I've done my degree course courtesy of football sponsoring me."
It is a powerful reminder that football can be a vehicle for education and personal growth, not merely a sporting pursuit.
For many young players, access to scholarships, mentorship and professional opportunities can be life-changing.
Kamanda's message to aspiring footballers is therefore rooted in discipline and patience.
"They should stay focused and disciplined. They should never let anyone put them down and should only trust the process."
While PAL's run to the final ultimately ended in disappointment, Kamanda prefers to focus on the lessons gained from the experience.
The team's resilience was tested throughout the tournament, particularly in a tense semi-final encounter against Changamwe Ladies.
PAL held their nerve to progress before eventually falling short in the title decider.
"Losing the final wasn't the best of results," she admits. "We get to learn from our mistakes, there's a next time."
Despite the heartbreak of coming so close to lifting the trophy, she believes the tournament strengthened her both as a player and as a leader.
"The overall performance however has helped me improve as a leader, sharpened my skills further and reminded me of the importance of being resilient. Before the final, we had a really tough semi against Changamwe Ladies but held strong. Next time we'll go for the title."
Kamanda is also convinced that tournaments such as the Super 8 Ladies Cup should become a regular feature on the women's football calendar, particularly during the off-season.
In her view, the benefits extend well beyond football.
"We need more tournaments like these around the country, especially during the off-season like now. More sponsors need to come in and grow the numbers as these are places where women footballers easily get mentorship opportunities, education opportunities and employment opportunities,” she says.
She believes increased investment from sponsors could unlock even greater opportunities for female athletes.
For Kamanda, the formula is simple: more tournaments create more exposure, and more exposure creates more opportunities.
"If more sponsors can come out and support such tournaments it will be a good day for football."
As she looks back on her weekend at Shanzu TTC, there is a sense of gratitude that outweighs any disappointment from the final result.
Representing ProActive Legends, scoring five goals and finishing as the tournament's leading scorer are achievements she will cherish.
More importantly, however, she leaves encouraged by the impact the event had on players and the message it sent to the next generation.
"The tournament was good and representing ProActive Legends was an honour," she says. "Just wearing it and scoring all the five goals is something. I am really grateful."
For Kamanda, the tournament was ultimately about proving what is possible.
"We showed the upcoming players that they also can do it. I was honoured to be a part of it."
As the curtains close on another edition of the Super 8 Ladies Cup, Kamanda's story serves as a reminder that success in football is not always measured by trophies alone.
Sometimes it is measured by the confidence gained, the connections formed and the doors opened along the way.
And on all those fronts, the Gor Mahia Queens midfielder leaves Mombasa a winner.