Saudi women 'dream big' with launch of a soccer league

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s launch of its first women’s soccer league will pave the way for girls dreaming of turning professional, and perhaps even playing in the World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has long been accused of strict restrictions on women, but only a few years ago it lifted the ban on female soccer players decades ago and is now strong enough to compete with major tournaments. We are aiming to develop a representative team of.

The latest step in the reform drive was this month when the Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced the formation of a women’s soccer league with 16 teams participating in matches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Among those excited about the move are now Fara Jaffli, who has said he wants to turn pro and play in England’s top divisions and represent her country on the biggest stage of the World Cup. bottom.

“At the beginning of my football journey, I faced some difficulties in that not everyone accepted it,” she told AFP.

“But my family and friends encouraged me a lot,” said an 18-year-old kid in a jersey with a ponytail.

Like many other girls who are passionate about football but unable to compete, Jaffli played with relatives on the streets and with friends at school.

Her only other outlet was watching games on TV, she said.

The kingdom adheres to a strict interpretation of Islam, and women’s involvement in sports is still disliked in some areas.

However, since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2017, some restrictions on women have been lifted as the country opens to the world through radical reforms.

This shift allowed women to grab the steering wheel and participate in a mixed gender environment, despite continued strict crackdowns on complaints.

‘number one’

According to people familiar with the matter, Jaffli is one of about 30 athletes selected from 400 candidates as part of Saudi Arabia’s national women’s team.

“I dream of a day when I can represent my country in the Women’s World Cup,” she said, adding that she also wants to play in Manchester City on the British side at the club level.

In Saudi Arabia, there are no women’s teams in sports clubs where men’s teams have participated in the World Cup five times.

During the training session in Riyadh, the women of the national team were excited to take them to the field at Prince Faisalbin Fahad Stadium. Some women had no veil but wore long tracksuits under their shorts.

Authorities have not yet announced restrictions on sportswear for Saudi women in the face of close scrutiny from religious police that enforce strict dress codes in the past.

Team goalkeeper Rama Al Oneage said she was delighted to be part of the team.

“It was my dream, and even my parents’ dreams, that really encouraged me on this trip,” the 25-year-old parents told AFP.

Saudi Arabia has so far established three training centers for girls aged 13 to 17 nationwide and plans to establish up to nine by 2025.

This week, Germany’s Monika Staab announced that she has been appointed head coach for a women’s team called the “Green Eagles.”

“Everything is new, as if the baby started walking and standing,” said Starve, who won the UEFA Women’s Cup for the first time in 2002 as the manager of Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Saudi Arabia National Women’s Team is currently preparing for their first friendly match in February.

Mr. Starve, who had previously coached national women’s teams in Bahrain and Qatar, said he was optimistic.

“In five to eight years, they will be number one in the Gulf, and this will be a big achievement,” she said.

COURTESY: AFP