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AN ENTHUSIASTIC team of talented and competitive women has only one goal in mind ... to secure the talents of a top coach.
The Desert Divas, made of football fanatics aged between 14 and 55, have been meeting every Wednesday for the past year at the Riffa Views Rugby Club in Saar.
Jacqui Ainger, 30, player/manager, said: "We began with a bunch of 15 ladies who wanted to come together to play the game. It has proved to be a great way to meet new people and have some fun ... but now we're ready to take it to the next stage."
They believe a football coach could help with tactics and enable them to enter competitions. They are also happy for more soccer-loving lasses to sign up to the weekly sessions.
"Anyone who wants to just play the game can come and join us," said Jacqui. "In fact we would welcome anyone who wants to share some ideas and tricks to allow us to improve.
"We are also in dire need of extra football gear such as shin pads, goalie gloves, bibs, football boots and cones, although at present our main concern is footballs - we could do with some more for training purposes."
One of the Desert Divas' initial moves was to put their male sporting colleagues in their place. Jacqui said: "When we first came to play all the men laughed. They nudged each other saying 'look, the women are here'. And the second time, they were like 'look ... they have actually come back!'
"When we first started playing everyone on the field just went running for the ball. But over time, we dealt with positioning and strategising on the field and everyone has improved and knows what job to do on the pitch.
"It took a lot of courage to prove we could play the game."
Annette, a pre-school assistant, from Saar, said: "We're proving that football is not only a man's game."
So far the Desert Divas have played friendlies against the Ibn Khuldoon Islamic School and will be playing against the Eastern Flames of Aramco at the end of this month.
Anette is looking forward to the challenge, adding: "I used to play in a boys team in Ireland till I was 14 and later on joined the ladies football team. The instant I heard of the club I decided - it's for me!"
Jacqui said: "I have played football all my life. My whole family, including my two daughters Georgia and Sydney, are Liverpool supporters - the sport is a big thing for us."
Londoner Oonagh Khull, a Saar resident and mother-of-two, said: "I am a pre-school teacher so I NEED to get out in the evening and kick a few balls!"
Divina Altman, 37, a mother-of-two who has only recently started playing football, said: "It is fantastic and involves great team spirit.
"It was also nice to see that in an Arab, male-dominated society, you had so much women participation. I was surprised to see young Arab girls on the field."
The club is open for all women with an entry fee of BD2 for non-members and BD1 for members.
Jacqui said: "It's a team sport and is much better than sitting at home watching Coronation Street and munching a bag of crisps!"
If you are willing and able to coach The Desert Divas to glory contact Jacqui on 39622717 or captain Shauna Nearing Loej on 39327616.
