Over the last few years, Sydneysider Hina Javed has been busy training Australian children to kick, head and dribble according to football international standards.
In 2016, Hina volunteered as a coach at a training camp of FC Barcelona in Melbourne to learn the best methods of football training. She finds helping children one of the “greatest joys” of life especially when it comes to football.
Aiming to provide girls in Pakistan a platform to play football, in January, Hina started Delta Football Club in her hometown, Karachi, which is Pakistan’s largest city, its financial capital and home to over 22 million.
Highlights:
- Hina Javed is a Sydney-based football coach who trains children
- She has started Delta Football Club in Karachi where she trains women
- ‘Sportswomen have been slut-shamed in Pakistan. This must stop,’ says Hina
Source: Delta Football Club
But the conservative society that Pakistan is, encouraging women to take to sport, is an uphill task she has taken upon herself.
“Women aged between six and 30-plus come to our practice sessions and that pleasantly surprises me. Some even leave their children at home to enjoy football,” Hina tells SBS Urdu.
Hina says that it is simply not considered appropriate in Pakistan for sportswomen to wear shorts on the field.
“Women footballers are shamed, stared and laughed at both men and women. In our first practice session, men were staring at us and some even made videos. Even women passing by, stopped and laughed at us,” she recalls.
Hina started a football club in Pakistan,encouraging women to participate Source: Hina Javed
A photo of Delta Football Club’s founding member Khadija Kazmi, with her teammates from her previous football club, Karachi United, was slut-shamed on social media in 2018.
The sportswomen didn’t back down and shared a video to question the attitude of the people trying to demean them.
Support sportswomen In Pakistan
However, Hina says every society has various shades and there are many who just need such opportunities to change attitudes.
“Men are considered the centre of the household in Pakistan. Despite that, many of them are don’t mind their daughters playing sport. Mothers who leave their children behind to attend our practice sessions, I am sure find support from the men in their families to enjoy their lives and live their dreams,” she says.
Not just football, but even women in cricket-obsessed Pakistan face similar challenges.
Nida Dar, who became the first Pakistani woman to play in Australia’s Big Bash League, would pretend to be a ‘boy’ to on the cricket field. In 2018, Pakistan's former women’s cricket captain Sana Mir told young sportsgirls that they “need strong arms, not smooth arms, on a sports field.”
Pakistan’s national women’s football team ranked 127th in the world 2016. With hardly any matches played in the last few years, it has not been an active global participant. In contrast, Australia national football women’s team ranks seventh in the world.
Every year, Pakistan Football Federation hosts a national championship to promote women’s football in the country. But Hina says a single event is just not enough to equip a team to compete internationally.
Source: Delta Football Club
Learn from Australia
“In Australia, there are leagues and competitive matches throughout the year that help players groom and develop their game professionally. In Pakistan, there is very limited promotion of the sport, and hardly any resources allocated for grounds. This discourages players from taking this sport as a profession,” she elaborates.
Hina hopes that just like in Australia, where most cities and towns have sports facilities for women, Pakistani women will also get a chance to play the games they like.
“Attitudes towards women in sport is changing in Pakistan and I want to be part of this beautiful change. I would love to see girls follow their dreams, and if they want to play football, even better,” Hina says with hope.
“I have been playing football all my life and when I got an opportunity to train with one of the best teams in the world, I decided to help others to get to know football,” signs off Hina.
Meanwhile, Football Australia is celebrating Female Football Week to mark the International Women's Day (8th March) in Australia. CEO of the peak body, James Johnson says the campaign will highlight the importance of Australia's co-hosting of the 2023 FIFA women's world cup.
"Presented to ministers, senators and officials of the federal government at Australian parliament house Legacy 23 is our plan to deliver immediate and long-term community benefits and economic impact from Australia's co-hosting."
- Please bookmark SBS URDU's website or make it your home page
- SBS Urdu is broadcast every Wednesday and Sunday at 6 PM (AEST)
- How to Listen
- COVID 19 Latest Updates in Urdu
- Install “SBS Radio” mobile app
