RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's launch of its first women's football league on Monday will clear the way for girls who dream of becoming professionals - and perhaps even playing in the World Cup.
Long condemned for harsh sanctions on women, Saudi Arabia lifted a decades-old ban on female footballers just a few years ago, and now aims to develop a national team large enough to fight in major tournaments. .
The ultra-Orthodox Muslim nation has faced criticism for its poor human rights record and for using sporting events to jail women activists.
Its latest move in a reform campaign came this month when the Saudi Football Federation announced the creation of a women's football league with 16 teams taking part in games in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Among those excited by the move was Farah Jaffrey, who said she hopes to play in England's top division and represent her country on the biggest stage at the World Cup.
"At the beginning of my football journey, I faced some difficulties in which not everyone accepted it," she told AFP.
"But my family and friends were very encouraging to me," said the 18-year-old in the jersey ponytail.
Like many other girls who were passionate about football but were unable to participate in competitions, Jaffrey played on the street with relatives or with friends at school.
His only other outlet was watching the game on television, she said.
The state adheres to a rigid interpretation of Islam, and women's participation in sport is still up in some quarters.
But since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came to power in 2017 some restrictions on women have been lifted as the country opens up to the world through sweeping reforms.
This change has enabled women to get behind the wheel and participate in mixed-gender settings, even as harsh crackdown on dissent remains.
'number one'
According to officials, Jafri is one of around 30 players out of 400 candidates who have been selected to be part of the Saudi national women's team.
"I dream of the day when I can represent my country in the Women's World Cup," she said. She added that she also hopes to play for English team Manchester City at club level.
There is no women's team affiliated with a sports club in Saudi Arabia whose men's team has qualified for the World Cup five times.
During a training session in Riyadh, the women of the national team enthusiastically took to the field at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, some of them without veils but wearing long tracksuits under their shorts.
Authorities have yet to announce a ban on any sporting clothing for Saudi women, who in the past faced severe scrutiny from religious police for enforcing a strict dress code.
The team's goalkeeper Lama al-Onizhi said he was very happy to be part of the team.
"I fulfilled my dream and even my parents' dream because they encouraged me so much on this journey," the 25-year-old told AFP.
Saudi Arabia has so far set up three training centers for girls aged 13 to 17 across the country, with plans to set up nine by 2025.
It announced this week that Germany's Monica Staub has been appointed head coach of the women's national team, dubbed the "Green Eagles".
"Everything new, like a child walking, begins to stand," said Staub, who won the inaugural UEFA Women's Cup in 2002 as manager of Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Saudi national women's team is currently preparing for their first friendly match in February.
Staub, who has previously coached the national women's teams for Bahrain and Qatar, said she was optimistic.
"In five to eight years, they will be number one in the Gulf and that will be a huge achievement," she said.
