Anyone from her community will know this story immediately. Though I will continue to post these as anonymous stories, I can't hide this one too well. She really is a trailblazer and the reason why many girls play soccer in her town.
During my week in central India a few months ago, I kept hearing about her story even before I met her. Other players, both girls and boys, kept saying, " Have you met her yet? No girls used to play before she was here. She was the first one and first female coach." Some of the girls said, " We would not be playing without her being the first one to do it. The community gave her a tough time but we didn't have to face too much because we were after her."
I am glad that she is kept in touch over the course of this year. This was one of my favorite interviews (though maybe I say that every time), but this one truly was unique.
As always, I asked, " What's your story?" This was her answer (direct translation from Hindi to English):
"I am now 21. It’s only my mom and me now. She is divorced. I’m the only child.
Because I’m a girl, my father tried to kill me. He left mom because I was a girl. My mom is like a friend to me, she does everything for me and is everything to me. After 12 grade/standard, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My friend told me to join sports. I wasn’t very confident. My college only let me play in cricket and hockey. The head coach here inspired me to play and I started to play football (soccer). There was a foundation that helps poorer children play and empower them. This foundation would allow me to play at a college level. Eventually I understood that I would be able to grow here, professionally.
When I first came here I was the only girl. There were no others. There were many questions here about why I am the only girl. The head coach and founder were very encouraging. They were like role models.
The community would torture my mom, as if by playing I was doing something wrong. After I was selected for an international tournament, everything changed. No one says anything now. My mom was worried though at first for my safety being the only girl. When she saw the training camps here, she came to see that this was a wonderful place, and she was like a mother figure to the out of station girls to came to play. All girls seemed safe here, regardless of what time of day we trained.
When I was selected to play in Brazil, it was in the newspaper. No one knew me though before this. I didn’t even know that this was spreading so quickly. One of my mom’s friends just happened to see it in the newspaper and told us.
At this point, teachers and parents came and said that if I coach then we will send their daughters to be coach by me, because I’m a girl. After I came back, I began coaching the daughters. Around 40 or more girls are playing now, when there were none initially when I joined.
No one cared about my sports performance till I was in the news. It became a highlight and everyone started talking. Some liked it but others didn’t think so, and thought it was wrong. In the Muslim community, most girls don’t go out wearing short clothes, because the community thinks this is wrong. They gave my mom a tough time, saying that I would change for the worst. After she spoke to the coaches here she felt safe and now agrees full heartedly to me playing this sport.
Sometimes parents were not supportive at first, but when they saw that sports is helping in studies, they started to agree to let the girls play. Our foundation also teaches social awareness. The girls here are fresh and stress free overall. The girls are able to perform here. The community and parents have started to ask why girls aren’t playing, even when they miss just one day of practice.
I was always so independent but I wasn’t that confident. When I started, I had to apply for a passport to travel. I went independently and had the confidence required. With the foundation’s and the team's support, I was able to do tasks by myself. Now, I help in the office, I also play, and will start coaching again soon."
After the interview, she told me that she hopes to become a sports journalist. I look forward to reading her work hopefully very soon!
During my week in central India a few months ago, I kept hearing about her story even before I met her. Other players, both girls and boys, kept saying, " Have you met her yet? No girls used to play before she was here. She was the first one and first female coach." Some of the girls said, " We would not be playing without her being the first one to do it. The community gave her a tough time but we didn't have to face too much because we were after her."
I am glad that she is kept in touch over the course of this year. This was one of my favorite interviews (though maybe I say that every time), but this one truly was unique.
As always, I asked, " What's your story?" This was her answer (direct translation from Hindi to English):
"I am now 21. It’s only my mom and me now. She is divorced. I’m the only child.
Because I’m a girl, my father tried to kill me. He left mom because I was a girl. My mom is like a friend to me, she does everything for me and is everything to me. After 12 grade/standard, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My friend told me to join sports. I wasn’t very confident. My college only let me play in cricket and hockey. The head coach here inspired me to play and I started to play football (soccer). There was a foundation that helps poorer children play and empower them. This foundation would allow me to play at a college level. Eventually I understood that I would be able to grow here, professionally.
When I first came here I was the only girl. There were no others. There were many questions here about why I am the only girl. The head coach and founder were very encouraging. They were like role models.
The community would torture my mom, as if by playing I was doing something wrong. After I was selected for an international tournament, everything changed. No one says anything now. My mom was worried though at first for my safety being the only girl. When she saw the training camps here, she came to see that this was a wonderful place, and she was like a mother figure to the out of station girls to came to play. All girls seemed safe here, regardless of what time of day we trained.
When I was selected to play in Brazil, it was in the newspaper. No one knew me though before this. I didn’t even know that this was spreading so quickly. One of my mom’s friends just happened to see it in the newspaper and told us.
At this point, teachers and parents came and said that if I coach then we will send their daughters to be coach by me, because I’m a girl. After I came back, I began coaching the daughters. Around 40 or more girls are playing now, when there were none initially when I joined.
No one cared about my sports performance till I was in the news. It became a highlight and everyone started talking. Some liked it but others didn’t think so, and thought it was wrong. In the Muslim community, most girls don’t go out wearing short clothes, because the community thinks this is wrong. They gave my mom a tough time, saying that I would change for the worst. After she spoke to the coaches here she felt safe and now agrees full heartedly to me playing this sport.
Sometimes parents were not supportive at first, but when they saw that sports is helping in studies, they started to agree to let the girls play. Our foundation also teaches social awareness. The girls here are fresh and stress free overall. The girls are able to perform here. The community and parents have started to ask why girls aren’t playing, even when they miss just one day of practice.
I was always so independent but I wasn’t that confident. When I started, I had to apply for a passport to travel. I went independently and had the confidence required. With the foundation’s and the team's support, I was able to do tasks by myself. Now, I help in the office, I also play, and will start coaching again soon."
After the interview, she told me that she hopes to become a sports journalist. I look forward to reading her work hopefully very soon!
