Blazing a trail for women’s football

Fort Rouge

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/02/2024 (598 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Patricia Eko-Davis is a young woman I got to know through being involved in the Caribbean community and as a volunteer at the Caribbean Folklorama pavilion since 1993.

When I first met her, you could tell she was a young woman with a purpose and the drive to accomplish tasks. She is enthusiastic about sports and has been involved in all kinds of sports activities over the years – from gymnastics to track and field, basketball and football.

These days, football is her game of choice, although she’s now a volunteer coach rather than being a player.

In 2006, Eko-Davis started playing touch football and still does “on and off.” In 2009 she joined the Manitoba Fearless women’s football team and played tackle football with them for the next 10 years in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL).

“I played defensive back, as a safety, halfback, and corner, and filled in as linebacker and running back when needed,” she said. While she doesn’t play anymore, she is still involved with the team. “Membership is open to ladies from 16 years old and up. There is no aging out,” Patricia explained.

In 2010, Eko-Davis, who works full-time with Rogers/Shaw, was a member of the Team Canada women’s team that finished second at the first women’s world tackle football tournament held by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in Stockholm, Sweden. Six teams from around the world participated.

“It was a moment. I was proud to represent my country so well,” Eko-Davis said. The 10 players from Winnipeg who were part of that national team received certificates from the mayor and were recognized by the Manitoba government for their achievements.

Eko-Davis began her coaching career in 2011, while she was still playing, with the St. Vital Mustangs, a football club which fields teams at every level of tackle football in Winnipeg, including the Manitoba Girls Football Association. Manitoba Fearless and the Winnipeg Rifles of the Canadian Junior Football League also call the Mustangs complex home.

She is currently the head coach of the Mustangs junior girls team in the MGFA, as well as the peewee Black boys’ team in the Manitoba Minor Football Association.

“Coaching is about sharing and teaching what you have learned as a player, motivating, and setting the team up for success,” she said. “I love this work and I get excited when I see the athletes giving their all and applying the techniques we discussed.”

Last year, she was also involved with the Falcons girls football team, which was made up of girls from Sagkeeng First Nation who regularly travelled into the city for games and practices.

“I was privileged to be a part of that was my connection to the Indigenous national team as (I was) one of the assistant coaches of the national Indigenous women’s U18 team,” she explained.

Patricia said a bonus to being part of an Indigenous team was learn8ing about Indigenous culture. She learned their teachings, took part in their smudging ceremonies, and watched on as elders spoke with the team.

“The community rallied around the team and showed them how they can pull together and help each other,” Patricia said. “Listening to the elders talk to the team was like an out-of-body experience for me. It was powerful and spiritual all at once to witness those teachings being passed down.”