Syria’s Kobani witnesses increase in number of female football teams
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Female football in Kobani, north Syria, is witnessing a lack of female coaches to train the teams in light of the increasing number of female teams.
The female football team that is affiliated with the Education Committee is the first female football team, which was formed in Kobani five years ago, while now there are 7 teams.
The 16-year-old Zilan Ahmad has been playing football within the Education Committee’s team for about three years and she pointed out that she and her friends are facing difficulties as their family discourage them for playing football.
The girl footballer believes that the Youth and Sport Board should organize championships for female football teams throughout the region in order to encourage them, “since matches held so far have been all friendly ones.”
The Education Committee’s football team in Kobani participates in the championships that are organized at the level of northeast Syria in Jazira region.
“Having girls playing football was not accepted in Kobani first, due to the tribal character of the area,” a coach in the Education Committee’s football team, Avin Muhammad said.
“However, by time it becomes acceptable, and five teams were formed in Kobani,” she added.
she pointed out that training sessions for female coaches must be organized because “some families do not accept that a male coach to train the females.”
Last year, the Amuda team won the first female soccer league title in Syria.
Organizing friendly matches between women’s football teams is taking place in order to organize a special championship at the regional level, according to Tolin Muhammad, an official in the Youth and Sport Board in the Euphrates Region.
She said that increasing the number of women’s teams is a must during the licensing procedure of clubs in the Euphrates Region.