LISBON: Leaving her homeland Afghanistan was painful, says 15-year-old Sarah. But now safely in Portugal, she hopes to pursue her dream of playing soccer professionally — and perhaps meeting her idol, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sarah was one of several players from Afghanistan’s national female youth soccer squad who fled their country in fear after the Taliban hard-line Islamist movement seized power in August.
Portugal has granted asylum to the young footballers.
“I’m free,” she said, smiling from ear-to-ear as she visited Lisbon’s landmark Belem Tower on the River Tagus with her mother and teammates.
“My dream is to be a good player like Ronaldo — and I want to be a big business woman here in Portugal,” she said.
She hoped to go back home one day but only if she can live freely.
Her mother, who requested that Reuters did not use their surname, had experienced first-hand a previous era of Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001. She is less optimistic they will ever be able to return.
Taliban leaders have promised to respect women’s rights but under their first government, women could not work and girls were banned from school. Women had to cover their faces and be accompanied by a male relative when they left home.
A senior Taliban official said after the Aug. 15 takeover that women would probably not be allowed to play sport because it was “not necessary” and their bodies might be exposed.
“The reason we took on this mission (to evacuate the team) was to ensure they can aspire and play the sport they love,” said Farkhunda Muhtaj, captain of the Afghanistan women’s senior national team, who flew to Lisbon on Wednesday to surprise the youth team players.
From her home in Canada, where she works as assistant soccer coach at a local university, Muhtaj has been in touch with the girls throughout the evacuation process, codenamed Operation Soccer Balls. It managed to rescue a total of 80 people — the female youth team and family members, including babies.
They landed in Portugal on Sept. 19.
When Muhtaj showed up on Wednesday night, the girls were ecstatic. They hugged. Some could not hold back the tears.
“They been through so much, so many challenges,” Muhtaj said. “They were just resilient and they were able to make it happen.”
One relative, 25-year-old Zaki Rasa, recalled the chaos at the Kabul airport, where he spent three anguished days. He is now delighted to be in Portugal and wants to continue his studies.
“There is some uncertainty about the future,” he said. “The important thing is that we are safe.”
Afghan girls’ soccer squad find new home in Ronaldo’s Portugal
https://arab.news/5udap
Afghan girls’ soccer squad find new home in Ronaldo’s Portugal
- Sarah, one of several players from Afghanistan's national female youth soccer squad, fled their country in fear after Taliban seized power in August
- Portugal has granted asylum to the young footballers
Ferreira sets sights on North America Cup
RIYADH: Ricardo Ferreira dominated last weekend’s Saudi Cup qualifying card and hopes to take this Friday’s feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with Man of the Night (FR) in the $40,000 (SR150,000) North America Cup.
Carrying the same colors of Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah as when landing the Saudi Cup qualifier and the 2000 Guineas on Saturday as part of a four-timer, Ferreira will partner the veteran nine-year-old who was a Ministry of Culture Cup winner last February.
The owner is also represented by Muhammad Al-Daham’s mount Ajwadi (GB) in the 12-strong field over 1,600 meters, with the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz sending out the Sami Alharab-trained Annafel (USA), who steps up in grade having got off the mark in handicap company last time.
A full field of 20 has been declared for the $40,000 UK Cup over 1,800 meters in which Ferreira rides Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah’s Pretty Flag (IRE), whose most recent success came in the domestic Group 2 Prince Sultan Ben Abdulaziz Cup in March.
Red Stable is doubly represented with Al Abjar (IRE) and the top-rated Almaan (USA), with the rival White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz also having two runners in the shape of Electability (USA) and the Camilio Ospina-ridden Faal Khair (USA).
Causeway (USA) makes a quick reappearance in the race under champion jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi after taking sixth behind Bolide Porto (IRE) in the Neom Turf Cup qualifier – the Listed Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup — last weekend.
The other feature on Friday is the $40,000 Ministry of Media Cup over the shorter 1,400 meters and Ferreira could gain feature as he gets aboard Red Stable runner and joint top-rated Latin America Cup winner Jahdoon (KSA).
His main rival from his 19 opponents could be Abdullah Al-Fairouz’s mount for the White Stable, Lilaelem (KSA), who carries the same rating and is unexposed as the winner of three of his seven starts but drops back from 1,600 meters.
Zefzaf (USA) landed last weekend’s 1351 Turf Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Saudia and his form should be boosted as the runner-up Love De Vega (IRE) is a clear pick in the 10-runner $32,000, 1,200 meters open that kicks off Friday’s card.
The Red and White stables should fight out the finish in the $32,000 1,351 meters sprint fielding four of the 10 runners with the latter represented by Fouj (USA) and last weekend’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Nova second Jeddah Beach (USA).
However, Red Stable could pack a punch with the seventh from that race Hajes (GB) and Ferreira’s mount Fearnot (IRE), who makes his KSA debut after being sold for 500,000 guineas to Najd Stud / Archdale Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Sales last October, having raced in the UK for Clive Cox where he was a three-time winner from eight starts.
Saturday’s feature is the $40,000 Aseer Region Governorate Cup for three-year-olds over 1,400 meters, in which Ferreira again holds claims for the Red Stable with the once-rated winner Gaab (KSA), who was a tidy winner for the rider on New Year’s Day.
