JEDDAH: Soccer has always been one of Saudi Arabia’s favorite sports. Now, amid wide-ranging social reforms, women are taking to the football pitch to play their part in the Kingdom’s number one sport.
Leading the way for Saudi women in soccer is Sham Al-Ghamdi, the Kingdom’s first female football referee.
In a previous interview with Arab News, Al-Ghamdi said she has her eyes set on taking charge of a World Cup match.
“I spend hours reading and listening to advice from refereeing experts. To referee a World Cup match would be a dream come true,” she said.
Al-Ghamdi’s interest in football and refereeing began at age nine when she saw players in a match voice their anger at a referee’s decision. “I wished at that moment that I was in the referee’s shoes,” she said.
“Since then I have been following football events on TV, listening to the pundits’ comments and analyzing the performance of the referee.”
Jeddah Eagles’ coach Bireen Sadagah is also thrilled with the inclusion of Saudi women in soccer.
“I’m over the moon that Saudi women are finally becoming part of the number one sport in the world,” she told Arab News.
“Women now have the chance to be brave and courageous about sharing their passion for football. I’m delighted that the competition level is growing significantly.
“The number of female players in the Kingdom is increasing rapidly, and it’s only going to get bigger,” she said.
Sadagah said that all footballers share a passion and drive to improve. While Saudi players are making great strides in the sport, they still need significant support to reach international standard.
“Whether proper facilities, recovery or diet, this will give them the added edge that’s needed. Saudi footballers are naturally talented, and the only thing missing is the external support to recognize that they can play at a competitive level.”
Jeddah Eagles won the Jeddah Women’s Football League in December 2019.
“The Eagles vision is to inspire and educate through football. Living through the values of confidence, competition and commitment, the Eagles focus on teaching the values of teamwork and self-discipline both on and off the pitch,” Sadagah said.
Sports journalist Riyan Al-Jidani is proud that Saudi women have become part of the number one sport in the Kingdom.
“It is a great step taken by the Saudi Sports for All Federation to enable women in this field,” he told Arab News.
Al-Jidani writes about Saudi women in football and has called for official support for women’s football clubs.
“Women’s soccer in the Kingdom needs a professional league and investment. There should be investment in women’s football clubs,” he said.
“We have a large number of women’s football clubs, mostly in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, but it is a struggle sustaining them financially.”
Lujain Kashgari, a founding partner of Al-Mamlaka women’s football club, is an AFC certified football coach who is aiming for FIFA certification.
“I am taking time off to develop myself in the sports field while pursuing a master’s degree in sports management at my own cost,” she said. “I started in Alexandria soccer club as assistant coach, then joined Stanford athletics department as an event manager.
“My plan is to improve in the sporting field and come back to Saudi Arabia to apply all that I have learned. Now we are looking for sponsorship for the Kingdom’s women’s football team,” she told Arab News.
Kashgari took part in a sports exchange program in the US in 2018, and joined the Saudi women’s green team that took second place in the Women’s World Cup for the Sustainable Goals in the US the following year.
“I love football and I want to empower Saudi women in sports generally. I want to help lay the foundations for expanding the game in Saudi Arabia, so participation in this program was a wonderful opportunity.
“My dream is to represent my country in competitions such as the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup, to show the world that Saudi women have high athletic capabilities and skills,” she said.
