Fathime Tibu is 33 years old and has been part of the TAFISA Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway since 2024, when she joined as a Local Trainer with Moving the Goalposts (MTG) in Kenya. In the 2025 – 2026 cycle, she stepped up as a Regional Trainer, coordinating trainings and supporting the implementation of partner organisations across the region. Her daily work involves designing training programmes, conducting coaching sessions for senior and junior teams, overseeing grassroots coaching within MTG, mentoring players, and looking after the welfare of the young people in her care.
This is her story — in her own words.
She began her journey as a young girl growing up in a rural village in Kilifi at the age of nine. Raised by a single mother alongside her five siblings, life was never easy. Her mother worked tirelessly as a food vendor, running a small local food kiosk commonly known as a kibandaski. Although the income was very little, she remained committed to educating all her children.
To reduce expenses, the family slept on the floor of the same structure that operated as a small hotel during the day and became their sleeping place at night. Despite the hardships, hope and determination remained alive within them.
Growing up in a conservative Muslim community, girls were expected to stay at home and focus entirely on domestic chores. Young girls were rarely given opportunities to play or express themselves freely. Their responsibilities revolved around cooking, washing utensils, fetching firewood, and taking care of household duties, while boys enjoyed the freedom to play football and participate in other recreational activities.
But she was different.
Whenever she watched the boys playing football, she felt deeply inspired by the game. After completing her household chores, she would quietly sneak out to join them on the field. Her talent quickly became visible. The boys admired her confidence, skill, and determination, even though many people in the community strongly disapproved of girls participating in sports.
At the age of eleven, her mother passed away, and with her passing, all hopes of becoming a journalist seemed to disappear. With no one to support her education, she felt that all was lost.
Then came Moving The Goalposts (MTG) – at exactly the right time.
MTG arrived when the voices of girls and women needed to be heard and amplified the most. The organization reached grassroots communities where girls’ dreams and opportunities had long been ignored and undermined. Through MTG, girls and women gained access to knowledge and information that had previously been unavailable to them. They began to understand their rights, their value, and their place within society.
Even in primary school, her talent and passion for football were undeniable. Barefoot, she played the game with determination and was eventually selected as the captain of the girls’ team. She participated in every match, leading her school all the way to the national level competitions. In high school, she once again earned the role of captain because of her outstanding performance on the pitch.
At one point, the lack of school fees almost forced her to stay at home. But football changed her story. Through her talent and hard work, she received sponsorship throughout her high school education – and she did not disappoint. She led her school to international competitions, proving that opportunity, when given to a determined girl, can transform a life.
MTG empowered young girls, especially those from marginalized and forgotten communities, by building their confidence and giving them a platform to speak out and express their views. It nurtured their skills both on and off the pitch, equipping them with the strength, resilience, and leadership needed to survive and succeed in communities where the girl child was often overlooked.
Through discipline, awareness, and determination, she rose above the limitations placed before her. She found a safe platform where she could play football regardless of her gender and grow into a professional footballer. That opportunity not only transformed her life but also gradually changed the mindset of the community, helping people begin to believe in the potential of the girl child.
It is through platforms such as MTG and partners like TAFISA that outdated traditions and harmful cultural beliefs continue to be challenged, creating space for equality, empowerment, and opportunities for future generations of girls and women.
And the girl I have been talking about throughout this story is the one standing right before you – Fathime.
Through the support of MTG, TAFISA, and other partners such as FIFA and Common Goal, who believed in me and gave me opportunities, I have been able to grow into the person I am today.
My journey is proof that when communities invest in girls, empower them, and give them opportunities, transformation becomes possible.
As we continue strengthening our communities, we still have a long way to go – but together, we can create a future where every girl has the chance to dream, grow, lead, and succeed.
Fathime’s journey – from a barefoot girl on a dusty pitch in Kilifi to a Regional Trainer shaping the next generation of coaches across East Africa – is exactly what the Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway was built to make possible. In May 2026, she took that journey to the world stage, sharing her story as a panelist at the TAFISA World Congress in Prague before an audience of sport leaders, practitioners, and decision-makers from around the globe. Her presence on that stage was not just a personal milestone – it was a powerful testament to what the pathway produces: coaches who don’t just implement a programme, but embody its values, carry its mission into their communities, and inspire others to believe that change is possible. As the pathway grows and reaches more girls and coaches across more countries, Fathime Tibu stands as a living example of what happens when a girl is seen, supported, and trusted with the tools to lead.
Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway 