July 1, 2004
Team will represent Afghanistan at International Children's Games
By Erin Block
Washington File Writer
Washington -- This summer nine girls from Afghanistan are visiting the United States to learn soccer techniques and leadership skills so that they can organize school and city teams when they return home.
The girls, who range in age from 11 to 16, are part of the Afghan Youth Sports Exchange -- a program whose mission is to develop Afghanistan youth into leaders who will spark athletics in the community.
"Athletics can be a tool to create positive social change," said Awista Ayub, founder of the AYSE program.
Ayub hopes to create a lasting change in Afghanistan by working with these student leaders to create youth recreation programs. Once the girls return home, an AYSE sponsor will help them organize teams and continue playing, said Ayub.
"My parents and I are very happy that I have this opportunity," said one team member. "I hope to continue playing soccer when I go back home."
Another player said that soccer is already becoming very popular among girls, and Ayub noted that there are about 20 girls back in Kabul who weren't able to come on the trip, but are very interested in playing soccer.
The team will be attending a three-week soccer camp at the Ethel Walker School in Connecticut to prepare for the International Children's Games from July 28 through August 2 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Afghan girls' soccer team will be the first team to represent Afghanistan in the Children's Games since 1968
"This team has started a tradition for their country. It's a positive connection for Afghanistan to the rest of the world and something the country can hopefully strive to continue," said Ayub.
Throughout the year Jawed Sanie, a local Virginia soccer coach has been collecting equipment -- cleats, soccer balls, uniforms, shin guards, tee shirts and shorts -- to ship over to Afghanistan. When Sanie found out an Afghan girl's team was coming to the United States, he decided to help out by coaching the girls before they went off to camp.
"The girls are great athletes. They pick things up very quickly and they seem very willing to learn. They listen well and when you give them instruction you can tell they have never been taught these things before. They are raw material, but it's better to teach kids like that."
In Afghanistan, soccer is the most popular sport, but usually the girls are left on the sidelines as the boys play, said Sanie.
"I want people to realize that this is a sport the girls can play too," said Sanie. "Hopefully through this experience the girls gain the confidence to go out and play and AYSE will give them that opportunity not just in the U.S., but back at home too. At the very least, I hope the girls will have the confidence to join the boys during recess," said Sanie.
On the first day of practice Sanie introduced techniques on how to run with the ball, how to change direction with the ball and how to pass.
He also instructed the girls in English.
"You have to teach them slowly in English as well because they will have American coaches at camp. So in order to know how to do certain techniques they have to know what for example 'inside of the foot' means. If they understand that, than they can understand what the coach wants them to do."
Sanie also taught the girls what it means to be a team.
"We went over what encouragement means and how everyone on a team has to encourage each other so that no one is afraid to make a mistake while learning something new," said Sanie.
The girls have been meeting up and playing soccer with each other after school before they came to the United States.
Team chemistry can already be seen in the way they act with each other.
"When they're out on the field, there's nothing but smiles," said Ayub. "I think that's a true testament that they really want to be here and that they're having a good time."
Although a majority of the day will be devoted to playing soccer, evening activities are designed for having fun and just being together as a team, said Ayub.
During their time in Washington, the team is staying together in a sponsor's home, which happens to have a backyard pool.
When the team was asked what they like to do after practice the answer was a unanimous: "Swim."
