Sudanese football coach Janet Habil told Altaghyeer she was proud as the first woman from her country to coach in Saudi Arabian, leading al-Najma (the Star) women football team, a genuine motivation for her to press for success and achievement.
Altaghyeer: Abdallah Berair
* How do you feel as you take your first step on the road to success?
– Praise be to Allah, I’m definitely very proud and grateful for the opportunity to prove myself and be an effective member of the society, and I will deliver, Allah willing.
* Have you ever dreamed to be the first Sudanese woman to train in Saudi Arabia?
– Honestly, I have been dreaming and dead sure of taking this role because I know Saudi Arabia is a country that secure due rights for both men and women, and it supports young talents within its 2030 Vision.
* What is missing for Sudanese women to succeed as football coaches, players or even administrators?
– Every hardworking person deserve a share of success. I don’t think that a Sudanese young man or woman lack talent or self-confidence, but we lack resources. Another vital element needed for going forward in the road to success, is the backer who supports youth achieve their set goals.
* In your view .. why training of the Sudanese National Woman Football Team was not assigned to a woman?
– I think it is better to have a woman coach because she would be closer to the women community and hence able to understand their feeling, thinking and abilities, I believe that women can handle any challenge and realize their visions. However, it seems the selection of coaches for the Women National Team was based on specific criteria, namely the level of the candidate’s training license. But, we have competent female trainers such as Sara Edward who is an A Pro License holder but she is currently living in Germany. We have also very important women coaches like Salma al-Majdi and Ibtihaj Derma.
* How was your experience as a player in the Sudanese women football team al-Tahadi (the Challenge)?
– Al-Tahadi is one of the Sudan’s first women football teams, I was selected to the team on merits of my talent and capabilities and therefore I succeeded in proving myself, praise be to Allah, and thanks to the team and coach Sara Edward who believed in me as a player and after I sustained injury she supported me to adopt a coaching career.
* How do you describe your experience in the Jeddah al-Najma club of Saudi Arabia?
– I’m going through a very big experience in al-Najma team and I’m very proud to be a member of this team. Definitely there are challenges, but difficulties are found to be overcome for us to achieve our dreams. With people around who believe in you and with confidence in our abilities we can achieve anything. I’m grateful to al-Najma Club (administration, technical and medical teams) that has placed its trust on me as a coach and provided me with this good opportunity.
* What do you say about women football in Saudi Arabia, as a nascent sport activity within that community?
– It is a very successful experience because the Kingdom’s leadership have great faith in women capabilities a matter that enhanced women self-confidence. I can say that Saudi women football clubs are up to par with their counterparts in any country that has preceded in this field.
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