Mingma Tenzing K.C. is a 25-year-old English teacher who has recently completed a two-year fellowship program with Teach for Nepal at a school in Bhotenamlang, a remote village in mountainous Sindhupalchok, one of the least developed districts in Nepal.

Schoolgirls in the area often drop out of education to marry and become housewives. "Child marriage is just out there," he tells CNN Sport. "The girls have so much pressure in their homes, they work so much, it's hard to describe it."

A football fanatic, Mingma overcame much opposition to form a girls' football team at his school and recently organized a football tournament for girls from Bhotenamlang and nearby villages.

With makeshift goalposts on a dusty pitch, the girls competed 2000m above sea level before enthused villagers and school friends, which Mingma captured on a disposable camera provided by global photography project Goal Click. The results are captivating.

Mingma says: "I was looking to show the passion that the girls were displaying in front of me, in front of the teachers and the villagers. They love football and this was one of the rarest opportunities for them to get to play without any hindrances."
Mingma says: "I was looking to show the passion that the girls were displaying in front of me, in front of the teachers and the villagers. They love football and this was one of the rarest opportunities for them to get to play without any hindrances."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Mingma had pushed for an inter-house girls football tournament to be held at the school when only boys were allowed to play. "There was a social stigma that girls shouldn't be playing and I just really wanted to do it, to use it as a confidence booster," he says.
Mingma had pushed for an inter-house girls football tournament to be held at the school when only boys were allowed to play. "There was a social stigma that girls shouldn't be playing and I just really wanted to do it, to use it as a confidence booster," he says.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
There were many challenges to overcome when the school team first formed. "[Sometimes] the girls couldn't train because they had to rush back home to work or they couldn't get parental permission so I had to face lots of parents and teachers," Mingma says. <br />
There were many challenges to overcome when the school team first formed. "[Sometimes] the girls couldn't train because they had to rush back home to work or they couldn't get parental permission so I had to face lots of parents and teachers," Mingma says.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
He encouraged girls who weren't performing well in school to take part. Mingma explains: "I focused on girls who would fail, who were working in their homes, who lived furthest away from their schools, who didn't know basic English, maths and science."
He encouraged girls who weren't performing well in school to take part. Mingma explains: "I focused on girls who would fail, who were working in their homes, who lived furthest away from their schools, who didn't know basic English, maths and science."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Following the success of the school tournament, Mingma set about organizing a competition involving schools with Teach for Nepal fellows. "I even told them, 'hey start training your teams because you don't want to embarrass yourself. You better have a good team," he jokes.
Following the success of the school tournament, Mingma set about organizing a competition involving schools with Teach for Nepal fellows. "I even told them, 'hey start training your teams because you don't want to embarrass yourself. You better have a good team," he jokes.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
With funding from <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehuracanfoundation.org%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">The Huracan Foundation</a>, girls aged from 13 to 16 from five different rural villages competed in a two-day tournament. Getting to the pitch was a 45-minute uphill walk from the school in Bhotenamlang, where the players were staying.
With funding from The Huracan Foundation, girls aged from 13 to 16 from five different rural villages competed in a two-day tournament. Getting to the pitch was a 45-minute uphill walk from the school in Bhotenamlang, where the players were staying.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
As the tournament progressed, Mingma says he could see the players gaining confidence. "The main point of this tournament was to give them a platform where they could grow and communicate, where some girls could become leaders," he says.
As the tournament progressed, Mingma says he could see the players gaining confidence. "The main point of this tournament was to give them a platform where they could grow and communicate, where some girls could become leaders," he says.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
For Mingma, one girl in particular stood out, the goalkeeper for Team Huracan FC B. "She does the majority of the household work," he told <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goal-click.com%2Fnepal" target="_blank" target="_blank">Goal Click</a>. "She used to be very timid and never took part in any activities in class. Football has changed her life."
For Mingma, one girl in particular stood out, the goalkeeper for Team Huracan FC B. "She does the majority of the household work," he told Goal Click. "She used to be very timid and never took part in any activities in class. Football has changed her life."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
And one team in particular impressed. "The first match they lost they were helpless, they were so scared," he says. "But in the second game you could see the change, specific girls becoming leaders, their goalkeeper shouting."
And one team in particular impressed. "The first match they lost they were helpless, they were so scared," he says. "But in the second game you could see the change, specific girls becoming leaders, their goalkeeper shouting."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
This is Mingma favorite picture. "It was so dramatic," he tells Goal Click. "The worst part was that the ball went in and the referee didn't see it. The team went crazy and said that they would quit the tournament and go back home the very same day, and they were the team that came from the farthest village!"
This is Mingma favorite picture. "It was so dramatic," he tells Goal Click. "The worst part was that the ball went in and the referee didn't see it. The team went crazy and said that they would quit the tournament and go back home the very same day, and they were the team that came from the farthest village!"
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
"The girls in the vans, they're from the villages next to us so it's like five hours away," Mingma explains. "I was so grateful that they came. The ride, it's not a smooth ride. It's up and down, through rivers, through forests."
"The girls in the vans, they're from the villages next to us so it's like five hours away," Mingma explains. "I was so grateful that they came. The ride, it's not a smooth ride. It's up and down, through rivers, through forests."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Playing in altitude was not a problem for the girls, says Mingma. Though, chasing after the ball when it had started to roll down the vertiginous slope was a challenge. "The ball boys had to run up and down," he says. "They were a huge help."
Playing in altitude was not a problem for the girls, says Mingma. Though, chasing after the ball when it had started to roll down the vertiginous slope was a challenge. "The ball boys had to run up and down," he says. "They were a huge help."
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Mingma, who is a project leader for The Huracan Foundation, is also starting a not-for-profit organization, FootleadNepal, which will send project leaders into schools to encourage extra-curricular activities. "Through football we're going to be teaching leadership, teamwork and communication so we can bring small changes in communities like this," he says.
Mingma, who is a project leader for The Huracan Foundation, is also starting a not-for-profit organization, FootleadNepal, which will send project leaders into schools to encourage extra-curricular activities. "Through football we're going to be teaching leadership, teamwork and communication so we can bring small changes in communities like this," he says.
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Nepal football on top of the world
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.
Nepal football on top of the world
Goal Click/Mingma Tenzing K.C.