From Abu Dhabi to Leganes, this is the story of Nouf Al-Anzi

noouf Al-Anzi (Abu Dhabi, 1996) was First Emirati footballer to play in Spain. she for heritagea team in the “Preferente” league in Madrid, where she showed her Football and human qualities. “I always wanted to be a football player,” She told Marca’s “Primera Plana”. “My father played football. My (four) brothers also played football. My mother loved football,” she said.

For Nouf Al-Anzi, soccer started out as a pastime played in a family setting, and any gathering is a good excuse for boys (and girls) to chase the ball. Nouf grew up watching idols like this Brazil’s Marta Vieira and American Carli Lloyd On TV, though the regime in her country made it impossible to imagine being a part of it. “I have been blessed to have the support of family, friends and those who have entered my life who not only understand my passion for football but also consider it healthy,” she says. “Women in my country are becoming more capable, not only in football, but also in other sports and other fields. Fortunately, I didn’t have any hurdles to overcome to become a football player. on the contrary, I get a lot of positive feedback on what I do and they encourage me to keep going,” she stressed.

signed by the application

In addition to the shadow of her parents, Faleh Faisal and Sarah Alyousif, noof pointing Julia Al Taheri It’s a big reason why she and other girls are the football players they are today. “She raised the first generation of female soccer players in our country and inspired us to keep going,” she asserted. “When I started, there weren’t many girls playing football, but when some guys realized there were more guys actually playing, they started joining. Today, the popularity has increased so much, it’s incredible,” she said. Only One of the prerequisites for Nuf to be able to play is that she has to finish her studies. “It’s hard to combine the two, but it’s worth it,” said the Emiratis, who has BS in Safety Engineering, currently pursuing a MS in Sports Management. “When I finish my football career, I want to be able to stay involved and do something in my country to promote women’s football,” she says.

Since there is no structured league Saudi Arabia (launching this year), Noof had to go abroad to make a living.she played for a year Wadi Degla in Cairo I got a call last summer CD Leganes. her international director, Faisal Chehad, Heard about her through the app (The Legend App). “I’ve always loved Spanish football, it’s a reference for all football schools around the world. I know coming to Spain is a big challenge for me, but an exciting step in my career. Since I arrived, they has been very loyal to me and i am very happy. they taught me spanish and i tried to teach them arabic [although they communicate in English]. The city is very beautiful and I love it,” she said.

Debut with a goal

She arrived in Madrid in September, but It didn’t debut until November 19th due to bureaucratic issues. She played against CFF ‘D’ Madrid in a match that ended in a draw (2-2), in which She spent 64 minutes on the pitch and scored her first goal for the club just two minutes later. “I don’t usually shoot much and they always tell me that, but at that moment I didn’t think much of it and I scored,” she said with a laugh. “She is a skilled player who can bring more balance to the team,” manager Jerometos analyzed, Use her as a fulcrum in his 4-3-3 formation. “It took her some time to adjust because of language issues, but every day she looks more integrated on and off the field. She is disciplined, hardworking and helpful,” he added.

Nouf is already a member Team Legan, who is aiming to advance this season. “Her arrival is a breath of fresh air. We’ve adapted to each other and we’re glad she’s here,” said captain Mara Lzaro. “She speaks the same language as any of us, the language of football, which makes everything easier. We can get by in English too. If not, there’s always sign language,” he said. he explained. “She’s a very powerful, helpful and courageous player. I think she will give us a lot, both football-wise and emotionally,” the coach concluded.

cultural shock

The clash of cultures proved to be both compelling and rich. Nouf doesn’t wear a hijab, but he does wear a T-shirt and pants under her official outfit, and usually changes at home rather than in a dressing room. “We took into account her customs, which are very different from ours here, so she was as comfortable as possible,” Maria said.

Except for Spain, Nouf is working with the United Arab Emirates national team, The current FIFA ranking is 114th. “We are a team with very little playing time. [their first official match was in 2010]but we are making great progress,” said the captain. “Many teammates wrote to me asking about my experience, and I encourage them to try abroad,” said ’10’, who is also an Adidas ambassador, enthusiastically Huge Alexia Putellas fan. “I love her because of her career, what she’s achieved and what she means to girls. Hopefully what I’m doing will help girls in my country respect me and dream of being a footballer,” she says.