Pakistan midfielder Amina Hanif who currently represents Chesham United has opened up about her experience playing football wearing a hijab (a headscarf).
“I used to think I looked so bad wearing the hijab, and it lowered my confidence and distracted from my game,” Amina said. Guardian. She shared that, initially, it was difficult for her to play with the hijab but things got better with time.
“After a while, something clicked and I almost stopped caring about everything. It feels really good when nothing affects you,” he said.
Amina, who recently made her debut for Pakistan, wants to inspire young women to play football. “I like to stand out the hijab means I stand out more on the pitch. My only challenge these days is readjusting my headscarf after heading the ball or hiding my pin from the referee before a game. I have been offered a Nike hijab, but I am relying on my own iconicity,” she said.
“My goal was always to play at the highest level. However, I hadn’t heard much about the Pakistan Women’s team until the opportunity arose. It shows you that you never know where life will take you.
“The Pakistani community in the UK is not recognized in many sports. But by being a part of the team I hope it inspires other girls to take up the sport and follow their passions both in Pakistan and the UK.”
He also supported local talent in Pakistan if there was a proper football system. “Pakistan has such a huge population and trust me, there is talent – both boys and girls. It’s just a shame there’s no real setup or scouting. I hope that by having more success with the national team, other girls will feel the value of time and effort to pursue their dreams,” she said.
