Teresa Calleb: Pioneering Women's Rights in African Football
In the evolving landscape of global football, certain individuals stand out not just for their skill on the pitch, but for their courage to challenge the status quo and create pathways for those who follow. Teresa Ouko Calleb is one such pioneer – a former Kenyan international whose impact extends far beyond her 43 caps for the national team.
From Player to Advocate
Teresa's journey in football began like many others – with raw talent and determination. As a defender who captained the Kenyan national team for seven years, she established herself as a formidable presence on the pitch. But it was her leadership off the field that would truly define her legacy.
"I have always been the player who leads on and off the field," Teresa has said. "I captained all the teams I played for, including the national team. I may not have been the most talented, but I was always the most industrious."
This industriousness manifested in her willingness to speak up when others remained silent. While many players focused solely on their performance, Teresa recognized early on that structural issues within women's football needed addressing – particularly in the African context.
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Breaking Barriers in Kenya
The landscape for women's football in Kenya during Teresa's playing days was challenging at best. Limited resources, minimal media coverage, and deeply entrenched gender stereotypes created significant barriers for female players.
"My coach once told me to stop being an activist and just play football," Teresa recalls. "However hard I tried, my mouth either offered a solution or got me in trouble. I liked championing our rights and encouraging my teammates to take courses or even invest their allowances in a business while we were still active."
This dual focus on immediate needs and long-term development became a hallmark of Teresa's approach. She understood that while fighting for better conditions was essential, players also needed to prepare for life beyond the pitch – especially in an environment where women's football offered limited financial security.
The Maternity Rights Revolution
Perhaps Teresa's most significant contribution to women's football came through her advocacy for maternity rights – a cause deeply personal to her own journey.
In 2013, at what should have been the peak of her career, Teresa became pregnant. At the time, this was often viewed as the end of a female player's career, with no structures in place to support their return to the game.
"I took a break in 2013 when I went on maternity leave. I was supposed to be getting a scholarship in America, where women's football is a major sport," she explains. "I thought having a baby would mean my dreams were shattered. I was entering the peak of my career and was pregnant and I was going to be a single mum."
Despite these challenges, Teresa returned to both club and international football after giving birth to her daughter. This experience fueled her determination to ensure other players wouldn't face the same obstacles.
"I am a champion for a proper maternity policy in Kenyan football," she states firmly. "If we take time out to have a family, there is a perception that we are not now fit enough to play football and we will not hit the same form again. But it is simply not true. We can still play and we can get even better."
Her advocacy helped shift perceptions and policies, laying groundwork for the maternity protections that FIFA would eventually adopt globally – though much work remains to be done, particularly in African football.
Beyond Playing: Building Structures for Change
As her playing career evolved, Teresa recognized the need to position herself where she could create systemic change. She pursued education relentlessly, earning degrees in journalism and psychology, and later completing the prestigious FIFA Master course at De Montfort University.
Today, she serves as the head of women's football at the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) and holds a seat on the board of FIFPRO, the international players' union. These positions allow her to advocate for women's rights at both national and international levels.
"When we can come together and actually champion for a course collectively, then it has an impact and it can push the policy makers to make the necessary changes," Teresa explains. "Like now we're struggling with things like safeguarding... because there are no safeguarding policies or even if they are there, no one is implementing them."
This focus on implementation – not just policy creation – reflects Teresa's practical approach to advocacy. She understands that written policies mean little without accountability and enforcement mechanisms.
The African Context: Unique Challenges
While women's football faces challenges globally, Teresa's work highlights the specific obstacles present in the African context. Limited infrastructure, cultural barriers, and economic constraints create a complex environment for female players.
"Football is work," Teresa emphasizes. "It's not just enjoyment or passion, it is work for some people. They wake up in the morning and that is their job. They look at their nutrition and they go to the physio. That is expense. It's not part-time for them."
This recognition – that women's football should be treated as professional work rather than a hobby – drives much of Teresa's advocacy. She fights for contracts, proper compensation, and professional working conditions that many male players take for granted.
Her work extends to addressing issues like sexual harassment and abuse, which remain prevalent in women's football across Africa. By creating reporting mechanisms and advocating for proper safeguarding policies, Teresa works to create safer environments for female players at all levels.
Partnering for Greater Impact
At FTBLRLIFE, we recognize the importance of amplifying voices like Teresa's and supporting the work of pioneers who have risked their careers to advocate for others.
"Teresa Calleb represents exactly the kind of leader we want to highlight and support through our platform," says David Clarke, Founder of FTBLRLIFE. "Her courage in speaking truth to power and her commitment to creating sustainable change in women's football aligns perfectly with our mission to tell the stories that matter in football."
Through our global community platform, we aim to provide a space where advocates like Teresa can share their knowledge, connect with players facing similar challenges, and build networks of support that transcend geographic boundaries.
"We're excited to work with Teresa to educate players through our community and elevate these critical discussions," Clarke continues. "By connecting her with our global network of players, coaches, and administrators, we can help amplify her impact and create meaningful change in women's football, particularly in regions where support structures are still developing."
The Road Ahead
Despite significant progress, Teresa's work continues. Women's football in Africa still faces substantial challenges – from limited investment and poor infrastructure to cultural barriers and governance issues.
"In as much as we're preparing players for transition or maybe life after football, we need to secure that now because it is their work," Teresa emphasizes. "If we try and push for what we've been singing – standard contracts and all that – now that we want to work together with the Federation as well and see how that can be done."
This collaborative approach – working with federations, clubs, and international bodies rather than simply criticizing from the outside – characterizes Teresa's mature advocacy style. She understands that lasting change requires bringing all stakeholders to the table.
As women's football continues to grow globally, voices like Teresa's remain essential to ensuring this growth is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Her willingness to speak uncomfortable truths while also engaging constructively with power structures provides a model for effective advocacy.
Through our partnership with Teresa and other pioneers like her, FTBLRLIFE commits to not just celebrating their achievements but actively supporting their ongoing work. Together, we can help create a football ecosystem where female players are valued, protected, and empowered – not just in Europe and North America, but across Africa and the entire global game.
Because when football truly changes for women, lives change for entire communities.
To learn more about Teresa Calleb's work or to connect with her through the FTBLRLIFE community, download our app or visit our website. Her profile is here
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