Lesotho’s Kick4Life FC to be ‘world’s first’ top-flight club with pay equality

Kick4Life FC describes itself as “the world’s first football club exclusively dedicated to social change.”

It began its journey 15 years ago, when British brothers Steve and Pete Fleming attempted a 250-mile football dribble fundraiser in Malawi.

After the conclusion and success of the campaign, they decided to settle in the Southern African country. Their work there eventually led to formation of the football club and its subsequent promotion to the Lesotho Premier league in 2014.

In 2015, the women’s team became one of the eight teams to kickstart the inaugural Lesotho Women’s Super league – the premier division for women – and have become an illustrious powerhouse in the country, winning the 2018 Super League Cup title and finishing in second place, three times in five seasons of the Women’s Super League.

As the team boasts of a blend of professional and semi-professional footballers; ranging from ages 15 to 32, its core group are young people whose passion for the game stemmed from being directly influenced by Kick4Life’s outreaches.

Puky Ramokoatsi is one of them. She came in through the charity’s Girls United programme 10 years ago, having been a victim of gender-based violence, and has risen to be one of the club’s most influential figures.

The 31-year-old women’s team manager has said that the move to pay equal wages to the men’s and women’s team would be seen as a huge boost for women’s fight for equality in the game.

“I feel very proud to be part of the first top-flight club to have gender equal investment,” she said.

“This could actually help a lot to motivate (us) and then, to make them (women) aware that they’re also recognised and they can reach their goals and reach their potential.

“We will be an inspiration to the football community in Lesotho and globally. But it is also a natural move for us to make after several years of using football to challenge gender discrimination and empower women and girls.”