Saudi Gazette report

JUBAIL — Captain Maram Al-Butairi is making all efforts to win her team the title of champions in the first edition of the Saudi Women’s Football Cup this year. Maram, holder of an accredited international license in football coaching, has been coaching Al-Shuala Al Sharqiyah (the Eastern Flames) Club, which is the oldest Saudi women’s club.

“I am training the team since 2006. Football is no longer restricted to men in the Kingdom, and women’s tournaments are achieving continuous success and high competitiveness around the world,” she said noting that women’s football is gaining more popularity and wider acceptance in the Kingdom.

Maram recounted the story of starting her career as a coach for children. “I started working as a coach for children’s football in 2016, and I went through this experience and sought to refine my training skills with children, until I got license of an accredited international trainer.”

As to the reasons prompting her to turn toward football coaching, Maram said: “I have grown up in a family that loved football and this itself motivated me to watch matches and practice the sport. This hobby continued until I started training children, so I decided at the time that I should devote myself to the task of training and teaching the basics of football.”

She also talked about her efforts in sports activities. “My work at Al-Shuala Al Sharqiyah Club focused on developing it and strengthening its internal institutional work so as to enable it to take the first steps toward a professional sports environment, away from personal efforts and limiting work within the club to individuals alone.”

Maram said that she has previously participated in a number of international tournaments in France, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other countries. While emphasizing that the most favorable sports environment is prevailing in the Kingdom for women, she underlined the need to instill in them a sense of confidence.

“They should also be provided with support both from society and from families, by encouraging young women and empowering them in the best interest of our country,” she added.

The Saudi Football Association had previously announced holding the first edition of the Women’s Football League this year, with the participation of several teams from various regions of the Kingdom.