MANAMA —
It’s an unusual sight in the conservative Gulf state of
Bahrain: a young mother
in an indoor basketball court is instructing the male players.
اضافة اعلان
Fatima Reyadh has
overcome prejudices to become the assistant coach of Al-Najma basketball club
in the capital Manama — and she doesn’t plan to stop there.
The 33-year-old,
who is also a Taekwondo black belt, aims to become head coach of the basketball
team one day and then bring home the national championship.
“When I began my
career, there wasn’t the same level of acceptance as there is today,” she said
during a training session with her seven-year-old daughter in tow.
“The presence of
women in sport was seen as bizarre, especially in basketball, which was
considered the preserve of men,” said Reyadh, sporting black leggings and a
baggy grey T-shirt.
“There were
concerns at first, but through hard work and dedication I’ve shown that doubts
about my ability to lead the squad were unfounded.”
Today, she thinks
of herself like “just any other basketball coach — I believe in myself”.
Several countries
in the region have sought to soften a hardline image in recent years, promoting
women more in the workforce, the arts and in sport.
But it is unusual
for a woman to rise to the top, and in the conservative Arab monarchies of the
Gulf, Reyadh’s position is astounding.
‘Bold choice’
Reyadh inherited a passion for the game from her mother, who coached a
women’s basketball squad.
She began by
training a team of young girls, then young boys, before being recruited by
Al-Najma.
Choosing her was
“a bold and at the same time quite frightening choice”, said the club’s
technical director Raouf Habil.
“Communication was
a bit difficult at first with the players, but in time it got a lot easier,” he
told AFP.
Society in Bahrain
is considered a lot more open than in other Gulf states.
Official figures
show that women, who make up 32 percent of the economically active population,
held 54 percent of civil service posts between 2010 and 2019.
Of the
government’s 24 ministers, four are women, although none holds a key portfolio.
Hussein Shaker,
one of Al-Najma’s players, is unwavering in his support for the team’s female
coach.
“The talented
Fatima Reyadh is an example of successful Bahraini women,” he said.
He said he hopes for “more
examples” of women working with male teams in his country, stressing that “I’m
all for women in sport.”
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