'Football changes lives': UAE's Nouf Al Anzi a source of inspiration in women's game

It’s been eight years since a teenage Nouf Al Anzi first donned the UAE national team jersey and stepped on a football pitch to represent her country. It remains the proudest moment of her sporting career.

Then 17, Al Anzi was part of one of the first Emirati women’s national football squads and the affable midfielder has grown with the team every step of the way.

“I always wanted to dedicate my life to football,” Al Anzi told The National.

“Back in school, I remember whenever they asked us, ‘What do you aspire to be? What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I always said, ‘football player’.

“I know it wasn't a common answer to be said – my classmates their answers were like, a doctor, an engineer and so on. But me, the only thing I was sure about was that I wanted to be a football player.

“So when I heard about the national team and the first call-up, I was very proud because to represent your country is I think the biggest pride any person or any athlete could ever reach. I think at that moment I realised, ‘Okay, I’m actually achieving my dream’.”

Al Anzi grew up in a football-loving family and played with her family and relatives in the street for as long as she can remember.

At 16, she found out Al Wahda Club in Abu Dhabi was setting up a women’s side for the first time and quickly signed up to join them. A year later, she was selected to be part of one of the first UAE national outfits – a moment she describes as a “historical event” for the Emirates and for herself.

Last week, Al Anzi appeared alongside Real Madrid and France superstar Karim Benzema in an Adidas campaign that was displayed on the iconic Burj Khalifa to help launch ‘Al Rihla’ (the Arabic word for ‘journey’), the official ball of the upcoming Qatar