Through Her Lens: Bilqees Watson is Telling the Stories Women’s Football Deserves

The coverage of women’s sport is being energised from the ground up. There are storytellers working quietly and consistently at grassroots level, capturing the moments that might otherwise go unseen.

In Cape Town, Bilqees Watson is one of them. A young entrepreneur and sports photographer, Watson is using her platform not just to document the game, but to shift visibility for women’s football in her community.

“I am a young entrepreneur as well as a sports photographer driven by passion. I use my work to help put Cape Town women’s football on the map.”

Her journey into sport began long before she picked up a camera.

“My love for sport comes from my family. Growing up my cousins and I were always playing football or watching football. I come from a football orientated family and this is how my love for sport started and stuck with me.”

“What started as just taking pictures at our local Sunday league turned into passion once I attended my first tournament, which was hosted by Heideveld Female Football Academy, which hosted just girls.”

“That’s when I fell in love with photography.”

Cape Town Entrepreneur and Sports Photographer, Bilqees Watson

That moment marked a shift, not just in her creative journey, but in her purpose. Through her brand, B-Triggered Shots, Watson has committed herself to telling the stories of players who are often overlooked by mainstream media.

“If I had to point out one thing that I would say inspired me to start B-Triggered Shots, it would be the hundreds of girls that are unknown to the world but possess such good and raw talent in our communities. The brand was always based off promoting the girls while they play. I saw a massive gap in the market and I took it upon my self to try and fill it.”

It’s a gap she continues to work tirelessly to close.

A typical day for Watson is far from glamorous. It’s long hours, constant movement, and a commitment to capturing as much of the action as possible.

“A regular day as a sport creator would be showing up to a tournament round about 9am as girls game always start that early. Then shooting about four games at once and trying to get as much coverage as possible. Then repeating it three times, or more. Then going home and editing.”

But her impact extends beyond the camera.

In 2023, Watson created something of her own, an initiative that speaks directly to her commitment to growing the game at grassroots level.

“I hosted a 7s girls-only football festival in my community and as a result it now happens annually (hosts up to 150 girls). It’s called The B-Triggered Football Festival. Which aims at bringing women from all communities together to come and play. This is the first of its kind.”

It’s this kind of work that positions her as more than a content creator. She is actively building platforms for young girls to be seen, to play, and to believe in their place in the sport.

Like many women working in sports media, Watson has had to grow into her role, especially when it comes to confidence.

“For me personally I needed to get used to being on camera and building that confidence. Lots of interviews later and I still am not 100% confident in front of the camera as I am behind it – Haha!”

Her honesty is refreshing, and it speaks to the reality of many women carving out space in the industry.

Interestingly, Watson’s journey has largely been self-driven.

“If I’m being honest there was never really a women in sport I’d look up to because I was never really surrounded by it. Harsh to say but it’s the truth. All that I am now came from personal experience and love for what I do.”

Even so, she acknowledges a few women whose work she admires.

“I do have two personal favourites, which are Steph Mawdsley, and Tarren Saunders. Amazing women in the industry.”

At the core of Watson’s work is a deep understanding of the role media plays in shaping perception and opportunity. “I feel as if we need to invest more into these girls and their talents. We need to stop thinking as women as afterthought. There’s talents and stories that need to be told but not enough coverage.”

Her call to action is clear, and it extends beyond individuals to the broader media landscape.

“The media has to do more consistent coverage and it shouldn’t just be on the highest level it should be on grassroots level. I feel that if we start on the lowest level people will be more appreciative of the highest level.”

It’s a perspective that aligns closely with the growing movement to elevate women’s sport from the ground up. Watson also recognises the role platforms like gsport play in shifting visibility.

“To me gsport has done so much with keeping the public updated on women in sport as well as creating awareness about whatever buzz is happening. I think that’s rather remarkable considering we get overlooked so much by media.”

Looking ahead, her ambitions remain clear. “My biggest dream is to one day shoot a women’s World Cup inshallah.”

And for those hoping to follow a similar path, her advice is simple, but powerful. “My advice to women who want to get started in this industry is to always do things with a pure heart and good intentions. Things will fall into place just START!”

Through her lens, Bilqees Watson is doing more than capturing moments. She is creating visibility where it didn’t exist before. She is building platforms where there were none. And she is ensuring that the next generation of girls in football are not just seen, but remembered.

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Main Photo Caption: Cape Town sports photographer and founder of b-triggered shots Bilqees Watson is using her lens to elevate the visibility of women’s football at grassroots level, telling the stories of talented players often overlooked by mainstream media and building platforms where the next generation of girls can be seen, celebrated and remembered. All Photos: Supplied

Photo 2 Caption: Watson believes consistent media coverage of women’s football must begin at grassroots level. Photo: (c) HM Photography SA

Photo 3 Caption: Driven by passion, Watson saw a gap in how Cape Town’s young female players were being documented and set out to fill it herself.

Photo 4 Caption: The annual B-Triggered Football Festival brings up to 150 girls from across communities together to play.

Photo 5 Caption: A Women’s World Cup assignment remains the ultimate ambition for Watson, as she continues to grow her grassroots photography brand.