“My parents rejected me for two years after I chose to follow my dream of playing football”
African female football is not doing well on the planet. It’s not because the continent does not have talented young women to raise their countries’ flags but rather the negative attitude parents and society has towards girls’ participation in football.
In this story The Insider features a Comorian young female footballer who went against all odds to become the dream player she has always wanted to be.
Armel Azihar Sylvania now plays for the Comoros national team but it was not an easy path.
Sylvania who started playing football at the tender age of ten, represented her country Comoros 14 years later on the national womens team, a dream that she held from her early days of kicking homemade balls from rugs and papers in her hometown, located on the island of Grande Comore. It is also the largest city in the island nation, with a population of 54,000 in 2011.
“I preferred playing with my brothers and cousins in the field. From the onset it was a hard nut to crack. It took a lot of begging and convincing for me to beg the boys to let me join them and play football even for one minute, but they remained adamant,” said Sylvania in an interview with The Insider in Bloomington, Indiana state, USA.
On the lucky days the boys let her play with them, she surprised them as she dribbled and dodged through the opponents. Since then she became part of the team and was never left out again whenever she went to play with them.
Her religion was her next big hurdle. As a Muslim, there were stipulated rules on how one is supposed to conduct herself. While in Comoros, Sylvania was once disowned by her parents for refusing to quit playing football as it was not recommended by her Islamic Faith.
“My parents rejected me for two years after I chose to follow my dream,” she revealed adding that even her close relatives, especially her aunties could not talk to her anymore during that period. Sylvania said whenever she got an injury no one cared to treat her.
Lady luck smiled on her when Mohamed Hassane, the Comoros women’s national football coach called her to join the women’s team.
“Things changed. From that time they became more caring and understanding, and could now see the benefits of the sports arena;” Sylvania added. She says the pride of representing the whole country during international games earned her way back to her parents’ hearts.
Sylvania’s parents and close relatives allowed her to pursue her dream of playing football.
Sylvania now plays for Olympic de Moroni, winners of the 2023 Comoros Women’s Cup
Her community did not see any sense in her family encouraging her to continue with her dreams. Living in a Muslim community Sylvania was judged daily. Others even hate her for her personality
“They used lewd comments including claiming that I am a Tomboy and no one would marry me because I won’t have babies. They believe girls who play football become burren, Sylvania articulated.
“Provided women can meet the physical demands of the position on a team, I don’t see any reason why they should be barred from playing on the basis of their gender.There should be equal opportunity to all sexes,” Sylvania added
Playing football means a lot to her because it has taught her team work management and discipline, Slyvania says when she is in the game with friends and colleagues she becomes free to express her emotions and thoughts.
Although her teammates and some of her friends appreciated her talent and respected her choice, some were not content and therefore, advised her to stop playing with boys because they believed football is a man’s game.
“Some of my friends thought I may transform and become like a man and I will not get any suitors ,” narrated the Mandela Washington Fellow.
Despite all the ups and downs, Slyvania, who joined the Comoros Women’s national team in 2010, says she fought off the attitude and the impression people around her had of her. She lived her life normally.
“I had the full support of my best friends coupled with a heart that will not quit,” Sylvania added.
Sylvania urges young girls and women to cherish and nature their talents and not let what people say stand in their way. She admits it’s a rough path, but promises that it is well worth it, especially after people realize the tenacity in you.
“Women are the ones who should advocate and give awareness about these issues for better life in the next generation,” Sylvania added.
The cover photo was taken at Bryan Part in Bloomington town, Indiana – USA. Photo by David David Mono Danga
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