The sisterhood of Muslim women uniting football and faith in London team

LONDON : On a soccer pitch in a central London park, Sisterhood Football Club - a Muslim women's team - is making a substitution.

"Your hijab, tuck it in. It can't get in the way," a teammate calls out as the replacement player runs on.

Despite the warmth of the afternoon, all of Sisterhood's players are clothed from head to foot in the club's all-black colours. Some wear training trousers, almost all of them have hijab head scarves and one is in a body-length abaya robe.

On the sidelines, a squad member unfurls a mat and kneels to pray while her teammates play on against a team led by Brazilian women in bright pink and blue shirts and shorts.

Founded in 2018, Sisterhood has doubled in size to almost 100 players, allowing its members to enjoy playing football without anyone querying their Muslim dress code or asking why they refrain from socialising in a pub after their games.

"It's a football club for Muslim women to come and feel free and relaxed and be able to play in their attire," Kamara Davis, 30, said.

She converted to Islam at age 17 and felt that she would never play soccer again because it seemed incompatible with the religion's traditional dress. But when she heard about Sisterhood, she jumped at the chance to join.

"Honestly, it just feels so good, it's like a release. It feels really nice when I am able to shoot the ball with power," Kamara said.

The club also offers a chance to Muslim women to enjoy a break from traditional roles that many say are expected of them.

Fatima Ali, 26, said some families struggled at first to understand why their young women members wanted to play sport. "I think a lot of people have approved of it," she said. "But it is still going to take time, it's not just a one-step process."

"Even