Jacqueline Nyirahabimana, who plays for Muhazi WFC, and Sandrine Mutuyimana, a player for Inyemera WFC and the Rwanda women's national team, say they are often ridiculed over their bodies, with Jacqueline in particular targeted for having facial hair.
At many football pitches where Jacqueline plays, fans gather to cheer her on. Yet some spectators question her gender, claiming she is not a woman because she shaves her facial hair and has small breasts. For Sandrine, her speed and football skills, combined with a lean physique, also lead many to doubt that she is female.
In an interview with IGIHE, both players admitted that their appearance sometimes causes them embarrassment. They explained that constant remarks suggesting they are men make them feel uncomfortable, even though their passion for the game remains strong.
'People often ask me, Jacqueline, why don't you have breasts, why do you have facial hair, why do you look like a boy? They wonder how I can play in women's football. But I was born this way. It's God who determines our bodies. No one can give themselves breasts. Everything comes from God, who created us,' Jacqueline said.
She added that while she ignores taunts during matches, she plays to inspire other girls with similar traits not to hide in shame.
'We live in a peaceful country where there is security everywhere. I no longer feel the shame I used to. People may stare at me daily, but I've accepted myself. I encourage others like me to also embrace who they are.'
Jacqueline recalled that the stigma began years ago when she attended Nyakiganda Secondary School in Nyagatare District, where both teachers and students often questioned her gender because of her appearance.
'I urge others like me to be confident, because people's words cannot stop your progress. I also ask people to refrain from using hurtful language, calling someone a man when she is a girl. It's deeply painful and should stop,' she said.
Sandrine explained that while fans' stares do not disturb her during matches, she sometimes feels embarrassed off the field.
'What hurts is when I walk in public and see people staring, whispering that I don't have breasts. It makes me feel bad because it's not my fault. I am only 18 years old, and I believe they will come with time. There's no reason to despair. To other girls like me, I say: don't be ashamed of your bodies. We didn't create ourselves.'
Both players appealed to the public to stop making derogatory remarks about girls with different physical traits. They encouraged young women with facial hair, deep voices, or other uncommon features to accept themselves and live confidently instead of hiding.
IGIHE
