Andiswa alikuwa anawaangalia wavulana wakicheza mpira wa miguu. Alitamani kujiunga nao. Akamwomba kocha kufanya nao mazoezi.
Andiswa watched the boys play soccer. She wished that she could join them. She asked the coach if she can practise with them.
Kocha akaweka mikono kiunoni. “Kwenye shule hii, ni wavulana pekee wanaoruhusiwa kucheza mpira wa miguu,” alisema.
The coach put his hands on his hips. “At this school, only boys are allowed to play soccer,” he said.
Wavulana walimwambia aende kucheza mpira wa wavu. Walisema mpira wa wavu ni kwa ajili ya wasichana na mpira wa miguu ni kwa wavulana. Andiswa alijisikia vibaya.
The boys told her to go play netball. They said that netball is for girls and soccer is for boys. Andiswa was upset.
Siku iliyofuata, shule yao ilikuwa na mashindano makubwa ya mpira wa miguu. Kocha alikuwa na wasiwasi kwa kuwa mchezaji wake wa kutegemewa alikuwa mgonjwa na asingecheza.
The next day, the school had a big soccer match. The coach was worried because his best player was sick and could not play.
Andiswa alimwendea kocha na kumuomba kumruhusu acheze. Kocha hakujua afanye nini. Akaamua kumruhusu Andiswe ajiunge na timu.
Andiswa ran to the coach and begged him to let her to play. The coach was not sure what to do. Then he decided that Andiswa could join the team.
Mchezo ulikuwa mgumu. Hakuna timu yoyote iliyokuwa imefunga goli hadi muda wa mapumziko.
The game was tough. Nobody had scored a goal by half time.
Wakati wa kipindi cha pili kijana mmoja alimpatia Andiswa mpira. Akakimbia kwa kasi sana kuelekea golini. Akaupiga mpira kwa nguvu na akafunga goli.
During the second half of the match one of the boys passed the ball to Andiswa. She moved very fast towards the goal post. She kicked the ball hard and scored a goal.
Umati ukashangilia kwa vifijo na furaha. Kuanzia siku hiyo, wasichana waliruhusiwa kucheza mpira wa miguu kwenye timu ya shule.
The crowd went wild with joy. Since that day, girls were also allowed to play soccer at the school.
