Here stands one of the thousands of young single mothers in Sierra Leone, watching a girls soccer game in Bo. Girls often become pregnant soon after puberty which contributes to the country’s extremely high maternal mortality rates. This young mother is carrying an umbrella to keep her baby dry during the frequent downpours that can happen during the rainy season. Next to her, the substitute players are waiting for their turn in the game. Soccer is an important part of social life in Sierra Leone. And these girls take it very seriously. Although they had proper uniforms, I didn’t realize how seriously they took their soccer until the first goal was scored. I almost dropped my camera with the shock of the unexpected screams and cries. The audience that surrounded the rectangular field without leaving an empty spot was enthusiastic. But the players were a different story. Each player screamed for a different reason: one for scoring, another for missing the chance to score, the goalkeeper for letting the ball in, and the rest to support teammates. I saw that soccer had a cathartic effect on both the fans and the players.