I played football for many years, I’m still involved in the sport. Football has played an important role in the development of the person I am today.
I started as a seven year old girl in a boy’s team. At that time, football was a boy’s sport and girls weren’t allowed to play. I could play with the boys after college but when they went to club training sessions I couldn’t join them. I simply did not understand this and I guess I didn’t want to understand it.
One day though, I went to training with the boys and joined them in their club training session. With my really short haircut, it was hard to see that I was a girl. At last, I was in a club and trained with the boys. Sadly though, three weeks later, the club found out that I was a girl because my dad told them. The club and my parents, however, agreed that I could train with the boys, but I wasn’t allowed to play any matches with the team.
Every Wednesday after training the boys received their invitation for the weekend match. Every Wednesday I waited in line with my teammates, but every week I was sent home without an invite. My coach found this a hard thing too and, feeling sorry for me, he started to argue with the club to let me play matches.
It took almost two years to get an invite for a match.
After the first match I became the captain of the team and joined the boys illegally in the competition. My early experience in football taught me some life lessons and was the start of building a strong character.
Between 16-26 May this year I had the opportunity to be at the Women’s Asian Cup in Vietnam where the Matildas won the silver medal. This elite football event was combined with a seminar entitled Football for Development; a network event for NGOs in particular. These organisations like One Goal, Salt, Football United – just to name a few – use football as a powerful tool to get in contact with children and to support them in their development at a very basic level; teaching children life skills, empowering children (especially girls), or in some cases, just providing the kids with food.
It’s amazing how influential football can be in the life of children all over the world.
I believe IFS will also be influential in the development and character building of your son or daughter and can guide your child towards more than a football career. On the field, as well as off the field, everyday football experiences will contribute to the accumulation of a broad range of skills needed to be successful in life.
Hesterine
Tania says
Wow, what can I say…. This story brought a tear to my eye. Thank you for sharing.