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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“And I was like ‘Oh, OK. But let 90 minutes decide’.”<\/p>\n
Juma’s side ran out 1-0 winners to silence her critics.<\/p>\n
“After the match, of course, we did not shake hands,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Earning three points against a very experienced coach gave me the motivation that I need to keep going.”<\/p>\n
A Sofapaka official did not respond to a request for comment on the incident.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“To me, I thought it’s normal,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It wasn’t until they talked about it being history that I realised this is big.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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