KARACHI: Pakistani woman footballer Sahiba Sardil, who received a hero’s welcome upon her return to her hometown after participating in a four-nation tournament in Saudi Arabia, said on Sunday that playing in the Kingdom was a “huge honor” for her.
Pakistan fared well in the Women’s International Friendly Tournament held from January 11-19 in Saudi Arabia, finishing runners-up and the hosts winning the tournament. Pakistan started the event on a high note, beating Comoros 1-0 on January 11 before losing 2-1 to Mauritius on January 15.
The green shirts ended the tournament on an impressive note and drew the final match against tournament champions Saudi Arabia 1-1, courtesy of a stellar free-kick goal from skipper Maria Khan. The goal, netted from a considerable distance, won plaudits on social media and laurels for the Pakistan women’s team.
Sardil, who plays as a defender, returned home to a hero’s welcome in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi. Video clips have gone viral on social media of her being garlanded with roses as she arrived in Mauripur — a small fishing town in the metropolis — with men dancing to the beat of the drums and waving the Pakistani flag.
Sardil told Arab News she relished the experience of playing an international tournament for the first time ever.
“To go to Saudi Arabia [and play there] was a huge honor for me, to travel outside of Pakistan,” the footballer said.
“It felt really good to go there, the grounds were really impressive and to play there felt really special as we don’t have such grounds in Pakistan.”
Pakistani woman footballers Maria Khan (left) and Sahiba Sardil pose for a picture in Saudi Arabia on January 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Football Federation)
She said her team could properly practice in Saudi grounds, owing to their sheer size. According to Sardil, playing against the Kingdom’s women’s team was another wonderful experience.
“We felt really good playing against them [Saudi Arabia], it felt as if we were playing football properly,” she said. “[the other teams] were committing a lot of fouls and hitting the opponents.”
Sardil, whose father is a fisherman and remains usually away for months at sea, recalled how she joyfully told him over the phone about the warm reception she received upon returning home.
“My father called me so I told him about the welcome I received. He was very happy. I told him that this is the happiest day of my life, but you’re not around me,” a visibly emotional Sardil said.
“’I am not with you but my prayers are always with you’,” she quoted her father as saying.
But for Sardil, making it to the national squad was no easy task. Growing up in a conservative locality where women remain within the confines of their homes, Sardil used to play football with her male cousins. The absence of a proper football ground meant she had to contend with kicking around a football in a dusty space.
With only one goalpost at their disposal, Sardil and her cousins used to mark the other one by placing stones on the ground. Her father, who Sardil says had “strict rules” for the women of their household, gave in and allowed her to join a football academy three years ago.
As part of the Pakistani national women’s football team, Sardil got an opportunity to meet her counterparts from other countries, including Saudi Arabia. She said she enjoyed interacting with one particular Laila, the Saudi team’s goalkeeper.
The Pakistan team, Sardil recalled, ended up taking a selfie with Laila and shared other light moments together.
“It was a great experience,” she added. “I will always remember those 10 days I spent in Saudi Arabia.”
