Rising Star: Awal Jamila’s Journey from Handball to Rugby Greatness
Meet Awal Jamila, the talented Ghanaian athlete who has taken the rugby world by storm. From humble beginnings in Kpandai, Jamila’s incredible journey is an inspiration to aspiring female Rugby players across Africa.
Her sporting prowess was evident from an early age as she excelled in handball, earning a free admission to Bolga Senior High School (BIGBOSS) courtesy of the headmaster’s recognition of her talent. Her impressive handball skills led to numerous accolades, including representing Northern Region Girls at the 2014 Inter-Regionals Sports Festival in Ho, where they won the Girls Trophy, and winning the Inter-District Sports Festival at Damongo in 2014 with Kpandai District.
In an exclusive interview, Jamila shared her story, saying, “Through handball, I gained admission to BIGBOSS, which was free. The headmaster took care of us, and we just came from Bolga to pick us.” She fondly recalls her achievements in handball, “Our year group from Kpandai represented Northern Region Girls in 2014 at HO Inter-Regionals Sports Festival and won the Girls Trophy. Our year group for KPANDAI DISTRICT also won the Trophy during the Inter-District Sports Festival at Damongo in the same year.”
Her bold transition to rugby was unexpected, but her natural aptitude and discipline made her a quick adapt. She joined the Ghana Eagles women’s team and has since become an integral part of the squad. “I was very discipline, active and very fast, which helped me adapt quickly to rugby,” Jamila explained.
The multi talented athlete has participated in three major tournaments with the Eagles women team: the 2021 Rugby Africa Cup Pre-qualifications in Kumasi, the 2023 Africa Pre-qualifiers in Zambia, the 13th Africa Games, and the 2024 Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens tournament at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium in Accra.
Jamila encourages young ladies from Kpandai and beyond to take up rugby, emphasizing its benefits. “Rugby has changed my life, and I want to inspire others to experience the same. It teaches discipline, teamwork, and resilience,” she said.
What is next for this talent pack defying the odds?
