Jackline Juma: Kenya’s female manager making African football history

Jackline Juma is making history as the first woman to coach a men’s team in Kenya’s top flight – but is still having to cope with sexism on the touchline.

Leading FC Talanta into the new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season, it did not take Juma long to realise that not everyone viewed her appointment as positive.

“There were some words uttered from the other bench like ‘We are not playing women’s football’,” Juma told BBC Sport Africa, discussing her second game in charge against Sofapaka.

“And I was like ‘Oh, OK. But let 90 minutes decide’.”

Juma’s side ran out 1-0 winners to silence her critics.

“After the match, of course, we did not shake hands,” she said.

“Earning three points against a very experienced coach gave me the motivation that I need to keep going.”

A Sofapaka official did not respond to a request for comment on the incident.

A 38-year-old mother of two, Juma began coaching over two decades ago and now holds the Confederation of African Football’s A license – the second-highest badge on offer on the continent.

She names Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta as her inspirations in the dugout, and aims to implement a dominant possession-based style.

While she has become a pioneer for other women to follow, at first she did not view her appointment in August through the prism of gender.

“To me, I thought it’s normal,” she said.

“It wasn’t until they talked about it being history that I realised this is big.

“Gender should not be a barrier. I told myself they’ll judge me based on what I deliver, not because I’m a female coach.”