As part of her efforts to support Ghana rugby at the grassroots level, a U.K. based rugby player Zainab Alema has donated rugby equipment to the national female rugby team in Accra.

In a project she calls “studs in the mud,” Zainab has been able to buy some brand new firm ground rugby boots using money donated by individual donors including rugby fans, friends and family and her club in the UK.

According to her, the project also aims to instill rugby values in children in some selected schools.

At a brief ceremony at the Ghana Rugby office, Zainab presented 18 new boots, 8 used balls, 42 HSBC shirts, 1 ball pump and 32 bibs to the national female team.’

Receiving the equipment, women’s rugby Development Officer Rafatu Inusah thanked Zainab for her generous donation.

On behalf of the President of the Ghana Rugby Association Mr. Hebert Mensah, Rafatu presented a national team jersey to Zainab.

Zainab, who is a mother, a nurse and a Muslim, says it is her personal aim to change perceptions about women in rugby through the project.

“My aim is to send a message to women that they can play sports and whilst living their normal lives,” she said adding that, “sport is good for the body and mind and I want people to identify with me thus have the belief they can play too.”

“Women rugby in Ghana is slowly developing so hopefully with my story it may boost recruitment into the sport for the women’s side. Aside from all that rugby is not merely a game but it has character building values such as respect, passion, discipline etc which has positive influence on people that take part in the sport.”

Meanwhile, as part of her outreach to give back to society, Zainab last donated some equipment to the Kanda Cluster of Government School and the Aggrey Memorial International Schools located in the capital city of Accra.

Ghana rugby has achieved some encouraging milestones in the recent past led by the exploits of the male national team, the Eagles.

Ghana won its first major trophy in Rugby after securing the 2018 Africa Bronze Cup on home soil in 2018. The Eagles are scheduled to take part in the 2019 Rugby Africa international tournament after being promoted to the 2019 Rugby Africa Silver Cup.

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