Sumaya Jan
Srinagar Nov 5: Defying odds, Kashmiri girls are taking up football aiming to represent India and make name and fame across the world.
One such girl is 23-year-old Nadiya Nighat, who lives in Srinagar’s Rambagh area. For the last 13-year, she has been playing football and is the first women’s coach of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nadiya, who recently joined as coach for Real Kashmir Footbal Club (RKFC) for girls’ team, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) said she has been imparting training to boys and girls for last many years.
She says sports were important to keep one mentally and physically fit.
She said RKFC, which has emerged among top clubs across the country has motivated youngsters to play sports.
Like Nadiya, there is another Kashmiri girl, Afshan Ashiq, 24, who has made her name in football.
She is also playing for Mumbia team as a goalkeeper and also imparting training to Kashmiri boys and girls in various grounds of Srinagar.
“If one has a will, no one can stop him or her from realizing their dream,” she said.
In her recently online conversation, she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, how she learned the art of keeping herself calm from former India captain MS Dhoni.
“I have learned a lot from him. He operates very calmly be it as a captain or as a player. I try to do the same. The way he works in his life, I believe everyone should function the same way to keep the mental stress under check,” she told PM.
Similarly, Iynam, a 21-year-old girl got inspired by Afshan and started playing football five-years before.
“When I saw Afshan Didi playing football, it motivated me to play this sport,” she said.
She has represented the J & K football team, played I-League and also participated in university, college tournaments and other state championships.
Iynam, said, “A lot of girls in Kashmir are coming to make their career in sports.”
Her dream is to represent India. (KINS)
Kashmiri girls defy odds to play football
