RAJAA HAMID RASHID

Baghdad — Players from the national teams and Iraqi clubs have affirmed that passion and determination were the primary drivers for continuing their sporting careers, emphasizing that the development of women's football requires greater institutional and media support to nurture talent, expand the base of participation, and create an environment that enables them to achieve results reflecting the development of women's sports in Iraq.

Players from the national teams and Iraqi clubs share their experiences with our agency, speaking about their beginnings, the obstacles they faced, and their hopes for developing women's football and representing Iraq honorably in international competitions.

 

Determination Forges Success

National team player Ghufran Siddiq Mahdi affirms that her passion for football began in childhood, with her family—particularly her father—playing a fundamental role in nurturing her talent. He was keen to support her and accompany her to clubs for training, which contributed to honing her skills until she became a player on the Iraqi women's national team.

She explains that her studies at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, and her pursuit of a doctorate in physical education, did not diminish her connection to football but rather increased her determination to develop her athletic level. She affirms that her love for the game was the greatest motivator in her career. Her beginnings were with the Education Directorates' teams before she represented the borders clubs, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and Al-Zawraa, eventually reaching the national team and fulfilling her dream of wearing the national team jersey.

Social Challenges and Limited Support

Ghufran Mahdi believes that the most prominent obstacles she faced were the traditional societal views toward women's participation in football, as some still believe that sports are not a suitable field for women. She affirms that Iraqi women have proven their success and excellence in various fields, including sports, and that determination and achievements are capable of changing this stereotypical image.

She also points out that weak financial and administrative support poses a significant challenge to players, as a lack of funding affects the continuity of training and the development of technical levels, in addition to the limited opportunities that enable players to continue their sporting careers.

She explains that players currently train at the "Bint Al-Iraq" Women's Academy, where the academy provides free training for national team players, given that national team gatherings are limited to the periods when the league is held. She emphasizes the importance of support from sports institutions, foremost among them the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Iraqi Football Association, and the Iraqi National Olympic Committee.

 

A Call for Talent Nurturing

For her part, Naba Ammar Ali, a player on the youth national team and the first Al-Rusafa Education team, and a former player of the "Fatat Baghdad" club, affirms that women's football needs greater attention from society and sports bodies. She calls on talented girls to join the "Bint Al-Iraq" Women's Academy, which works to discover, develop, and qualify talent to reach the national teams.

Asian Ambitions

Meanwhile, Jannat Abdul-Amir, who has previously represented Fatat Baghdad and the Rusafa and Al-Karkh education teams, indicates that the youth national team is preparing to participate in the Asian Cup after being drawn in a group that includes the teams of Malaysia, Syria, and India.

She expresses her hope for achieving positive results that reflect the development of Iraqi women's football, affirming that the players possess the ambition and will to present performances befitting Iraqi sports.

She also calls on government and sports authorities to increase support for women's football, noting that weak media coverage deprives players of showcasing their achievements and limits the spread of the game among girls and Iraqi families.

A Goalkeeper with Great Ambition

Goalkeeper Lama Jassim affirms that the "Bint Al-Iraq" Academy is among the most prominent specialized training centers for women's football in Baghdad, as it continues its training throughout the week and provides a suitable environment for developing the capabilities of national team players.

She recounts that her beginnings in football were during intermediate school, where she represented the Baghdad Education Directorates' teams and won many titles with her team in Al-Rusafa championships.

She notes that she initially faced opposition from her father regarding her playing football, but her commitment to her dream and determination to continue led him to change his stance, becoming one of her greatest supporters, accompanying her to training and following her athletic development.

Lama Jassim concludes her remarks by affirming that the reality of women's football in Iraq has witnessed notable development compared to previous years, after having suffered from a scarcity of championships and weak incentives. She expresses optimism about the future given the efforts being made to develop the game, particularly by the women's committee in the Iraqi Football Association, which has provided players with greater opportunities to participate in championships and leagues, and to continue their sporting careers with confidence and ambition.