Ammon News - By Shaherah Khatabeh and Mohammad Haseba

AMMONNEWS - Jordanian national player Stephanie AlNaber is the first female Arab footballer to play in a foreign league, spending a season at a top Danish club. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In an interview, she speaks about what she missed the most during her spell in Europe and how she’s made a mark as a woman footballer in a man’s world.

Jordanian football talent Stephanie al-Naber played for one season, 2009-2010 at Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark. She’s now a midfielder in the Jordanian national team.

Jordan coach Masahiko Okoyama says the 25-year-old is a valuable player, not least because of her exceptionally “strong left foot.”

Stephanie, who’s in Germany to take part in an international football event near Hanover, sat down with reporters Shaherah Khatatbeh and Mohammad Haseba to talk about her personal journey. Her dream, Stephanie says, is to one day see the Jordanian national team at the Women’s World Cup.

When and how did your love affair with football begin?

I was four years old when I started playing football with my youngest brother Yusuf who now plays for Faisaly (reigning Jordanian champions) and with cousins and friends. We played in our neighborhood in Amman. Over time, I became addicted to playing football and I haven’t stopped playing ever since.

I played on my school football team and then I became a member of the Jordan Youth Club. The Jordan Football Association(JFA) held the first national tournament in 2004 and we won the championship.

You have chalked up a number of achievements over the years. As a member of the Jordanian national team, you won the West Asia Cup in 2005 and the Arab Cup in 2010. What’s the secret to your success?

The support of my family and friends is one of the most important motivations for me to do my best. I come from a sports family. My father is a member of the director’s board of the Jordan Youth Club where I play now, and my brother and youngest sister Natash are all football players.

But though they always supported me, they insisted that I finish my education and get my degree in business while training hard at the same time. After 2004, Jordan began to take the women’s football team seriously. We trained five to six times a week to prepare for regional and international championships.

Jordan is a male-dominated society with a tribal structure and an Arabic and Islamic culture. What is it like playing football as a woman in such a society?

Oh! Yes, you know the stereotypical images that people have about the sport. People think that only men have the right to play football. I have sometimes heard annoying comments like “what are you doing on the pitch? Your place is the kitchen!”

But I managed to survive it all with the support of my family and friends. And as the number of my fans grew, it helped me as well as the other girls on the team to cope.
I am an optimistic person. I stay focused on my future and my career and I don’t listen to negative voices. And I am sure that with time, the image of women footballers will change and they will be accepted by society. When I enter the pitch and see my big family, parents and friends, I forget everything and this is what makes me stronger.

One other thing – there is still no permanent employment for women in football. So at this point, many women still do not consider football a fulltime occupation.

You’re the first female Arab footballer to play abroad. You had a professional contract with Danish Fortuna Hjorring for one season 2009-2010. How did that come about?

The Jordanian national team participated in the Abu Dhabi international champion in 2009. There was an Australian player playing with the Abu Dhabi team and she kicked for Fortuna Hjorring. She asked me if I would like to go play in a European country. And it was a dream I was waiting for for a long time. I didn’t think twice about it – I just said yes!

What was it like playing in Denmark? And how does it compare with your experiences in Jordan?

I think to play in a top club like Fortuna Hjorring alongside professional players is a hard job. It was a big responsibility for me. I spent a month trying out during which time my father joined me. And then I decided to start my professional career. They needed a left wing player and that was the position I played in Jordan .

But there are big differences between playing in Europe and at home in Jordan. The Europeans prepare really well, they have a high-level fitness regime and they’re very focused in their careers. It’s similar in southeast Asia, in places like Japan where they nurture talent from a very young age right from childhood.

In Jordan, to be honest, we achieved a milestone in a very short period of time. You know, football for women is new in Jordan but we are still very proud of what we have achieved.

How did the experience of playing abroad change you – both professionally and personally?

It was a great experience. You know how tight-knit our families in Jordan are. In Jordan, I lived my life surrounded by my family, with their love and support. And in Denmark, I didn’t have any of that. So through that experience, I became independent and strong and focused on my future. I worked hard alongside different people from different backgrounds. In the one season I spent at Fortuna Hjorring, I scored six goals. That was a good level and I’m proud of it.

You were very successful at the Danish club. Why didn’t you continue playing at Fortuna Hjorring? Why did you return to Jordan?

I got tired of missing my family. And the weather was so bad – it was so cold and cloudy and rainy all the time ! I hardly saw the sun – just a few times a year. You know, in Jordan, we have the sun almost all year round. I couldn’t handle it. I felt depressed and alone and like a stranger. That’s why I decided to go back home to my family.

You’re now 25 years old. You’re beautiful, independent and strong. Why haven’t you married?

Oh! Thank you, I’ve avoided thinking of this issue because there is a lot to do before getting married. Right now, I’m just focusing on developing my career. Everything has its due time.

Do you have any regrets?

Sometimes, when I see my friends outside the football community married and have kids it does cross my mind. But when I touch the ball, I forget everything. My most wonderful moments are when I’m playing football. I feel real happiness. I will only stop playing football when I stop giving my best.

As a successful professional player, what’s your advice to younger female players?

To love football. When you play, you must give your best, practise hard and develop your fitness.



http://www.passion-for-football.com

* DW-Akademie