A sort ofAs a football coach, Monika Staab (Monika Staab) has seen a lot of this world. She has been sent to about 80 countries to teach women to play football. But the former player’s task this Wednesday was also very special for her: Monica Stubbs will take over as the coach of Saudi Arabia’s first women’s national football team. In other words, this country has not allowed women to enter the stadium until recently, because the ruler believes it violates Islamic rules.
Really groundbreaking work awaits Staab, who worked as a trainer in 1. FFC Frankfurt because of the history of Saudi Arabia Women’s Football very young. Until a few years ago, women were completely banned from playing football in public. The Saudi women’s football team has only participated in one championship match since November. The national team must build a German coach from the ground up. “Saudi Arabia starts on the first floor,” Staab (62) said. “This is a milestone, especially for the Arab world.”
The Kingdom’s first women’s national team was made possible through social openness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Drive forward. Traditionally, compared with men, women in strictly conservative Islamic countries are at a very disadvantaged position. Many of their rights are still being denied. But with a series of reforms, the position of heir to the throne has been strengthened. For example, since 2018, women have been allowed to drive cars. They can now travel abroad without the consent of the male guardian. The dress code, including the headscarf, is also relaxing.
Saudi women are now gradually conquering the sport for themselves. She said that when Staab visited the country to train female coaches at the end of last year, she worked with “very active and loyal women”. “It was a huge experience. I was surprised by the openness of women.” And the player’s potential. Although officially not allowed to enter the kingdom, these will play for a long time. “I didn’t expect them to have gone so far,” Stubb said excitedly.
After arriving this week, she first wanted to get an overall impression, watch the game, invite players for trial training, and select about 30 athletes for the first training camp in the next few weeks. Staab’s experience is not new: she has also formed women’s national teams in the Gulf states of Bahrain and Qatar and Pakistan.
The Saudi Association left a good impression on them. The development of the women’s national team is advancing “very seriously”, leading female officials who have something to say. According to her, the association itself is firmly in the hands of men and is behind the project: “They don’t just allow it.”
But words and enthusiasm are one thing, and reality is often another. Staab came to a country where not only the hot desert climate poses a challenge to every sport.
Persuade the male society
Although women have gained new rights, many Saudi men still gaze at their previously unknown freedom with the eyes of an eagle. “Part of the job will be to convince society that women can and can play football,” she said. Staab also knows that, after all, she often encounters similar obstacles and doubts. “As a trainer, this has always been one of my main tasks,” she said.
Then there are political conditions. Although the crown prince gave women more freedom, he took the most severe measures against critics. In recent years, activists including women’s rights activists have been imprisoned time and time again. Human rights organization Amnesty International complained earlier this month that Saudi Arabia has intensified its persecution of “dissidents” in a worrying manner.
Staab knows this situation. But she is “completely outside the political situation,” she said. “I have to be in the country to make up my mind. I want to try to provide something for the women there through my experience.”
She learned a lot during her first trip. For example, she can wear a short-sleeved T-shirt to the streets without any problems. Or players in training play without a traditional headgear, even though FIFA allowed it in 2014 and used it in official matches. Staab’s contract was initially for one year. Then she wanted to see further. She has set a goal for herself: next March, the coach will play her first international match with the new team.
