Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
SEVENTEEN-0? No way. It definitely had to be a printing mistake ... But it wasn't!
Bahrain's women's national football team (yes, there is one!) had turned up the heat in the recent Women's Football Cup Arabia 2010. With solid performances and a display of prowess and skill, the team amassed goals with unbelievable ease and finished the competition in third place.
Talking about such impressive games, one would expect a large crowd of spectators, deafening sirens and flag-clad football crazy onlookers. Yet, sadly, the folding seats remained folded, the night seemed still and the stands seemed bare.
I've never understood why people have failed to pay attention to women's football - it's the very same game that men play with the same rules, time and motivations. Yet, women's football remains largely under-represented and under-estimated.
Honestly, people don't take women seriously if they express a desire to play football, except of course if they're part of the cast of Bend it like Beckham or She's the Man. If women can run, swim and pole-vault like pros, I don't see why they should hesitate when it comes to football.
Many people aren't even aware of the presence of a Women's FIFA World Cup. Yes, there really is one, every four years, along with a UEFA tournament, National Leagues and even Olympic Leagues.
Mia Hamm, Birgit Prinz and Marta Silva are all top-notch female footballers that could give some of their male counterparts a run for their money. And yet, they're not as celebrated as the infamous, almost legendary, cohort of male footballers.
It clearly isn't fair that the misconception of a woman's strength and determination is used against her when she truly is worthy of acknowledgement.
Just as men have been recognised as chefs, dancers and singers, women should also get their half of the pie.
It's not the Victorian age anymore and women are no longer confined by corsets and domestic roles. They can be who they want to be. And if they're good enough, they should be able to bathe in their own triumph and should be recognised for their feats.
On the football pitch, it shouldn't matter whether you're a man or a woman, it should depend on how agile, skillful and adroit you are and most importantly, the magic your feet can create.
