This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
December 14, 2019, marked a significant milestone for Christine Karimi, the CEO of Dream Football in Kenya and Africa. Her journey to the top was not without its challenges, but she has proven to be a trailblazer in a male-dominated sector.
Despite the odds, Karimi's passion for sports, technology, and working with kids drove her to lead the International Sports firm. Her interest in technology initially led her to attend a web summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2017, where she met representatives from Dream Football.
'We went to the section of technology and sports and I saw what they were doing. They were dealing with children and I just loved it,' Karimi recalls. 'We stood there for almost two hours talking about what we can do in Africa to promote football. We decided that Kenya was going to be the first showcase before we expand to other countries.'
With her appointment as CEO, Karimi faced numerous challenges, including being doubted by some and receiving comments like 'I didn't know you are a lady.' However, she has proven to be a strong leader, earning the respect of her colleagues and the football community.
Under her leadership, Dream Football has made significant strides, including flying 14 children to Lisbon for a football training camp in April 2020. The firm's aim is to help talented children from privileged backgrounds make it in football.
Looking ahead, Karimi plans to develop a football academy in Kenya and open the firm's second African branch in Congo before the end of the year. Her vision is to concentrate on developing the sport in Africa and creating opportunities for young footballers.
