Conceptualising Social Contributions Through Football: Analysis of Women Football Managers in West Africa

Some women have made notable progress in leadership in corporate businesses and institutions, yet females managing male football teams in West Africa are under-researched. In Ghana, managing a football team is a preserve of men only in the communities. By exploring further, this study provides the rationale behind women managers of Colts football (entirely young boys) and understands how they deal with challenges at the level of youth football management. The literature on youth football management and interviews with six female managers revealed exciting perspectives in the sector. Findings show that women managers' behaviour is based on social contributions towards supporting boys' wandering in the communities. However, they face challenges such as parental attitudes, lack of governmental support, little or no sponsorship and no social recognition from football associations and the local authorities as a barrier to females managing male football. The study recommends that stakeholders in the football industry support enthusiastic and committed women managers, using football as a social tool to promote and unearth talent for development, which can help reduce social vices among boys in West Africa while shedding light on the gendered dynamics, they face in the setting up of grassroots football sport for development and peace (SDP) programmes.