KABUL • Representing Afghanistan internationally should have been the highlight of Khalida Popal's career as a professional footballer, but life in the strife-torn country is never that simple.
It has been seven years since she was forced to leave her family and her homeland, terrified for her life and personal safety, after pioneering women's football in a country that has been described as one of the most dangerous places to be female.
She has paid a high price for becoming the face of the Afghanistan women's football team, with death threats forcing her to spend a year in an asylum centre before being granted permission to live in Denmark in 2012.
But Popal remains a local girl at heart, and despite having since suffered a career-ending knee injury, she has continued to organise training sessions for the team in other countries including Jordan, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
These camps have brought together players from inside and outside Afghanistan, and the bonds forged have compelled Popal to speak out about the ordeal of Afghan women players and her frustrations with a system that has failed to protect them.
Last Sunday, the country's attorney general suspended Keramuddin Keram, the head of the Afghan Football Federation (AFF), and four others after a probe into allegations of sexual abuse of members of the women's national football team.
According to the attorney general's office, they are:
• The AFF's deputy president, Yosuf Kargar
• Its general secretary, Sayed Alireza Aghazada
• A coach in charge of goalkeepers, Abdul Saboor Walizada
• An official in charge of liaison with provincial football teams, Nadir Alimi
While the investigation is still ongoing, Fifa has provisionally banned Keram from all football-related activities for 90 days "pending proceedings".
His name brings back harrowing memories for Popal. In a telephone interview with the New York Times, she claimed "the president of AFF and some trainers are raping and sexually harassing female players".
The 31-year-old also revealed to The Guardian the purported transgressions were as recent as February, when the players flew to Jordan from Afghanistan while being accompanied by two men.
"They (the AFF) sent two male representatives, going under the title of 'head of women's football' and 'assistant coach'," she said.
"They were bullying and harassing the girls, particularly the ones from Afghanistan because they knew they wouldn't speak up. I confronted them, told them they can't do that and I'd make a complaint.
"It continued. These guys were calling on the rooms of the players and sleeping with the girls. AFF staff members would say to girls that they could get them on the team list and would pay them £100 (S$173) a month if they would say yes to everything.
"They were pushing and forcing the girls. Coercing them."
When the players threatened to complain, Keram, who wields considerable political influence as a former governor of Panjshir Province, allegedly beat one of them with a snooker cue, and threw her and eight other women off the team, labelling them "lesbians".
After learning that the nine players had been sidelined, she went on to do her own investigation, only to find out the "huge extent of the abuse".
Popal added: "He (Keram) has a room inside his office that is a bedroom with a bed. The doors of his office (have) fingerprint recognition, so when players go in, they can't get out without his fingerprint.
"I found some of the girls were sexually abused, and physically abused if they said no. The federation would make an excuse to get rid of the player so that if they came out (and spoke publicly), it would look like they were just upset about being kicked off the team."
American Kelly Lindsey, the former national coach, corroborated Popal's account, saying the two male officials that were involved in the Jordan case had been "promoted and moved to other areas in the AFF".
The federation has, however, denied the allegations, calling them "groundless", while insisting it had "a zero-tolerance policy towards any type of such behaviour".
NYTIMES, REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
(Reuters) - France midfielder Paul Pogba believes England's Raheem Sterling is sometimes treated differently by the British media because he is black and does not get the recognition he deserves for his achievements. Speaking ahead of France's Euro 2020 qualifier against Moldova on Friday, the
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media
Former Real Madrid striker Predrag Mijatovic criticised Gareth Bale for lacking leadership qualities and hit out at coach Santiago Solari after the club's La Liga title ambitions were dented by
Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Madrid's leader, says
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope in absence of Kane and Alli The Colombian defender has insisted that the Tottenham squad is strong enough to cope without two of their star men
Lloris confident Tottenham can cope without Kane - Football365
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a 90th-minute penalty as a scrappy north-London derby against Tottenham Hotspur ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Hugo Lloris got down low to keep out
Kane and Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
BARCELONA, May 1 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi put Barcelona on the verge of the Champions League final by scoring twice in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in Wednesday's semi-final first leg, taking his
Messi Torments Liverpool With 600th Barca Goal In 3-0 Win
Football: Wayne Rooney bags first MLS hat-trick in D.C. romp over Real Salt Lake LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Former England and Manchester United football star Wayne Rooney scored three goals on Saturday (March 16) night to lead D.C. United to a crushing 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
Rooney bags first MLS hat trick in D.C. romp - worldfootball.net
Gotze predicts Borussia Dortmund success in Champions League despite 'very difficult' group Borussia Dortmund did not make it through the Champions League group stage last term, but Mario Gotze
Gotze predicts Borussia Dortmund success in Champions League
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany said his team are the "best in the world" after they thrashed Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final to claim an unprecedented treble. It is the first time in
Kompany quits Manchester City to become Anderlecht's player
The King, however, unsure of him being good, tied Manjusri up and drowned him into the water for three days, until when he was rescued by the Buddha. The Buddha ordered the Lion to ascend into the mortal realm to let the King pay back for it. Here, he posed as a Taoist, save the Wuji Kingdom from a drought.
The Pharisees | Villains Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Gwinn gets Germany's vital goal. Germany's midfielder Giulia Gwinn jumps for joy after scoring the winner in their Women's World Cup Group B match against China yesterday.
Giulia Gwinn gets Germany on the board vs. China | 2019 FIFA
Football: Jurgen Klopp hails his 'talented giants' for stunning win against 'maybe the best team in the world' Related Story Football: Liverpool stun Barcelona 4-0 in second leg to reach Champions
Champions League: These boys are giants, says Jurgen Klopp
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Malcom shines in Lionel Messi's absence as Philippe Coutinho struggles he remained at Liverpool and made himself the star of Jurgen Klopp's team. Instead he chose a
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Malcom shines in Lionel Messi's
Ex-FAS gen sec Lee withdraws from AFC exco contest, Soccer Information & Prime Tales; Bethesda Breaks Fallout 76 No Pay-To-Win-Promise With Restore Kits; Breaking!!! President Muhmmadu Buhari Secures New Entrance; LaLiga Santander: We discuss Messi, however the day Luis Suarez leaves Barcelona…
Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi and Alonso - Newest Chelsea group
Women's World Cup: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria
watch champions league final live streaming
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming bola
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
where to watch premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
tv soccer live stream sky
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch premier league live streaming qatar
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch live streaming of premier league football
#fcbarcelona #football #oasisandbeatles #visubal #firmino #soccerbible #lfc #liverpoolfc #ronaldo #cristiano #premierleague #soccermemes #footballdubai #ucl #linkstreaming #Suarez #bayern #footballstreaming #MSport #leomessi #elcasico #romania #oasis #myfootballuniverse #frasirap #crossfit #hoffenhiem #champion #Barcelona #manchesterunited #mancityvsliverpool #comico #433skills #vandijk #tokyo #sixtimes #cr7 #mancity #noelgallagher #seriea #portsmouthfc #villarealcf #neymar #leicestercity #londoncity #boxing #chocolate #liverpoolfans #livestreams #conference #liverpool #cristianoronaldo #cappucino #manchestercity #trollfootball #PartyTime #satira #ballondor #arsenalfantv #nikesoccer #england #fut #livestreaming #battuteepiche #barcelona #watchlive
0 comments:
Post a Comment