Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — After the resounding success of the first women’s basketball tournament last Saturday, female soccer players are now excited to organize soccer matches to encourage more women to participate in sports.

So the first women’s soccer tournament will begin on Wednesday with the participation of six soccer teams, Al-Watan Arabic newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Women soccer players in the Kingdom aspire to participate in Gulf region soccer tournaments and Arab soccer tournaments.

Currently, passionate soccer players are funding their own matches and tournaments.

Such expenses can be overwhelming as renting a soccer field can cost between SR2,500 and SR3,000 a month. Sport equipment and balls can cost SR10,000 to SR15,000 a year. Team uniforms can cost between SR15,000 and SR20,000 biannually.

Some matches played out of town against teams in Riyadh and Dammam cost more as flight tickets, accommodation and food have to be arranged.

Female soccer players have to train themselves and practice on their own as there is a lack of coaches and trainers.

Reema Al-Abdullah, Kings United Soccer Team player and founder, said the team was established in 2006 and its players have been diligently practicing ever since. “We want to be recognized as an official team and an official sport. All that we have been able to do since the establishment of the club is host friendly and unofficial matches on the national and regional levels,” said Abdullah.

“We cannot participate in official tournaments as other teams in the Gulf region can,” she added.