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DOZENS OF YOUNG Palestinian girls are practising their footballing skills on a makeshift village pitch, enjoying an opportunity denied their mothers’ generation in the socially conservative West Bank.
Gender barriers and religious taboos mean that the sight of women wearing football kit, even girls, is still shocking to some Palestinians who regard it as a men’s game.
Yet women’s football has developed significantly since the first Palestinian team was formed in 2009.
There are now six adult teams playing in an outdoor league and a dozen more in an indoor league.
Around 400 girls over the age of 14 are registered as players, and more and more younger girls are taking up the sport.
The 40 or so girls between 10 and 14 training in the village of Deir Jarir, outside Ramallah, have to make do with just six balls between them and their shirts have the name of the boys’ team on the back.
But under the watchful eye of coach Rajaa Hamdan, they are learning how to trap and pass a ball, dribble between cones and jump for headers.
Hamdan said she had been desperate to play as a child but was prevented by social attitudes in the village.
Now aged 32, she decided to set up a team for girls.
“When I was young, the circumstances did not allow me to practice, but the idea stayed in my mind,” she said.
So I said to myself as I didn’t play when I was small, why doesn’t my village have a team for girls like for the boys?
Using Facebook, she urged girls to sign up and was surprised to have 30 volunteers almost immediately.
“I was afraid of problems with the villagers, but so far there have been no serious ones,” she said.
‘Realised my dream’
Salma Fares, 12, said she was proud to be part of the team.
“I am very happy to practise football with girls like me. It is my right,” she said.
I am happy they formed a team in the village for girls, like for the boys.
Amal Alaa, 13, echoed her enthusiasm. ”I love football a lot and when I saw the announcement of the team, I asked my parents to allow me to join,” she said.
“My dream is to become captain.”
Hamdan said she was happy with the success of her project but worried the girls would give up on football as they grew older.
“I am happy because I realised my dream of getting the girls out of the repression they face,” she said.
“In our culture and traditions, when girls get older they either wear a hijab or get married, so they will not play the game.”
The president of the village football club, Youssef Mousa, said he had been pleasantly surprised by villagers’ reaction so far.
“When the idea of setting up the team started, we were afraid of the subject because it was not easy to set up a girls’ football team in a conservative village.
“But so far there has been no problem.”
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Think it’s more religious that cultural taboo….Well done…In Iran large movement of women fighting against the Hijab with no Hijab Wednesday also….Refusing to ware Hijab on Wednesday
@John003: that’s good to hear.
@John003: Unfortunately they’ve a long way to go though. The captain of the Iranian Women’s football team couldn’t play in the 2015 World Cup as her husband wouldn’t allow her travel (women need their husband’s permission to obtain a passport).
@Liam Doyle: he was just mansplaining, give him a break.
Actual bravery… unlike the Twitter hashtag brigade. Well done, ladies!
@Titus Groan: hashtag brigade?
#BringBackOurGirls
#NotAllMuslims
#LoveTrumpsHate
@Charles Spencer III: Hate it… pseudo-activism.
@izzy skint: Oh I see what you did there. You’ve changed the name of a well known medicated cream. How clever!
@Titus Groan: He thinks that he is sharp but he’s not really
@Ollie Mac: Yeah I’ve seen his comments. Sharp as a sloth throwing marshmallows.
@izzy skint: No… you definitely didn’t. Also in the strictest sense my comment was anti Islamic so I’m not sure what your point is. It’s not like the journal is at a loss for bad jokes let alone nonsensical puns.
Great to see a culture of oppression, glad to see feminists supporting this oppression of young girls . The mind boggles.
@Philip Brady: What?
@Philip Brady: Go back to bed Phillip.
@Coner Willis: I’m in bed, thinking, why young boys in Palaistíne are often in violent situations and young girls playing football with a hijab are getting called brave. wearing a polyester hijab in the heat of the day, running around sweating , because you’re so brave. Why do the left love oppression so much? Feminists seem to want to be dominated…supoorting the wearing of hijab is oppression.
@Philip Brady: If you don’t know why girls playing football in Palestine is brave, then you obviously didn’t bother to read the article. Just came down to the comments to express your anger and bitterness towards the left, yeah? Don’t worry there are many like you.
@Coner Willis: of course theirs many like me. Because people are getting tired of the lefts bs. You guys are getting exposed with every new article, in the comments section, reading these articles does not bring truth to the real problems, they are aimed at you lot. The journalism on here is pathetic and lazy and very much one sided. I won’t all women to be able to play football, and not oppressed in any shape or form.
@Philip Brady: Many feminists do think the hijab is oppressive. As regards men and war, they are often the aggressors AND the casualties. Always have been always will be. Breaking an Islamic gender norm is brave. Literally don’t know what you’re on about…
@Philip Brady: “Getting exposed in the comments section”. Eh, you must be aware that most commentators on this site are members of the alt right. The journal comments section has developed a reputation for being a sewer, which is why most people don’t scroll down this far. And how has girls standing up for themselves got anything to do with politics?
@Coner Willis: can you prove that these people are alt right, also what is alt right? I’m not going to read the rest of your comment until you explain what is the alt right?,
@Titus Groan: well you ask questions, that’s the most useful way of understanding somebody. Not keep on giving your two cent. What is it that you want to know?
@Philip Brady: You are speaking in riddles but as you’re vaguely antifeminist you’re getting approval. You’re not making any sense.
@Titus Groan: asking questions is the source of all knowledge.
@Philip Brady: What even?
@Titus Groan: you don’t know what I’m on about, but won’t ask a question. So how are you going to understand?
@Philip Brady: By you speaking clearly and bot babbling. A good start, perhaps?
@Titus Groan: why ó why can’t you just ask a question?
@Philip Brady: This must be how Alice felt talking to the Cheshire Cat….
@Titus Groan: do you think it’s acceptable got women to wear hijabs?
@Philip Brady: for
@Philip Brady: Obviously not!
A Christian child was murdered by his Muslim classmates in front of his Muslim teacher for using a ‘Muslim’ water cooler two weeks ago… Very progressive country indeed
Saw picture in thus publication of some young girl(around 10) playing hurling. It was a propaganda piece about integration in Mayo I think.
This very enthusiastic child was wearing a black outfit to her ankles, with a veil under her safety helmet.
You just knew that it was not feasible long term for her to continue to play due to cultural and religious restrictions. This despite her obviously been keen and committed.
It was in effect, nothing less then child abuse.
How many Muslim girls and women are actively involved in the GAA, soccer, rugby, swimming, Hurley, badminton, camogie, and athletics, mixed martial arts, community games, and cycling? When was the last time you saw a Muslim girl/woman out walking her dog on a summer’s night? Or out for a walk alone?
A rather damning indictment of Palestinian society and culture.
@Charles Spencer III: said he from the comfort of his armchair probably with a cigar in one hand and a brandy in the other.
@Dave Hogan: yes the freedoms we are afforded in the West are fantastic and our girls can play football without fear of repercussions. This is why our culture is superior.
@Charles Spencer III: feminists fought for years to stop the oppression of women. Now they support the oppression of Muslim women…… Am I missing something? Can somebody explain to me why oppression is not oppression.
@Charles Spencer III: tell that to the heartbroken family’s of the three kids murdered playing football on a beach by the israeli military.
@Dave Hogan: could you pass on their contact details?
It’s good to see these type of things going on , sport can breakdown barriers .
@Paddy Hayden: so you’re saying it’s ok to oppress girls?
@Philip Brady: I don’t support oppression , I dislike the hijab and Burqa , but this is a small step in the right direction .
I think you mean ‘Occupied West Bank’ by the Apartheid state of Israel.
@TravellingTheWorld: If the Palestinian state known as Jordan hadnt used the West Bank to attack Israel decades ago it wouldnt be occupied today. They have repeatedly been offered a state including most of the west bank but refuse it. They celebrate suicide attacks against civilians in Israel and the PA & Hammas in Gaza financially reward suicide bombers & other terrorists who traget Israeli civilians.
@AR Devine: and the local schoolyard bully receives billions of so called aid every year from America.
@Dave Hogan: You’re right – allies look after each other. Palestine should hand back the $712 million dollars it received from America in 2016 too. On principle naturally.
@izzy skint: anyone of Israels neighbours would have a hard job destroying armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons Israel.
@Dave Hogan: That hasn’t stopped Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, inviting all Palestinians, and Muslims everywhere, to attack Israel. He’s promised Israel won’t exist in 25 years. The silly rabbit. Additionally, Israel looked beaten in the early stages of the Yom Kippur War ( you’ll remember Israel was attacked when the whole country was celebrating a religious holiday) and Golda Meir refused point blank to even entertain their usage.
I’m so glad I wasn’t born in some s h i t hole like Pakistan or the Middle East, we are so lucky in Europe.
Don’t play on the beach
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