Lucy Bronze & Maysa Jbarah face off in 2020.
“It was a really tough experience, also. They didn’t pay us and they would try to fool us and say the payment is coming and there have been problems. It’s why I left there — it was a big problem for me and the other players.”
Is the European influx of players damaging Saudi football?
Alongside the surge of funding into women’s football in Saudi, the sport is also seeing an influx in European-based players. Barclays Women’s Super League players such as Leighanne Robe, formerly of Liverpool, ex-Leicester City star Ashleigh Plumptre, and Sarah Bouhaddi, who represented Olympique Lyonnais for 13 years, are all currently playing in the Saudi leagues. Jbarah was quick to outline the failures of relying on foreign talent.
“It was sudden. Everyone wanted to bring in these European players. To me, it doesn’t mean if you are European you are going to play better football, it’s a challenge.
“I have my records that prove the kind of player I am. It’s disappointing when you get told, ‘there’s nothing wrong with you tactically or on performance, we just want some more Europeans in that position’. It’s hard to hear.”
Image: Al Nassr 2024.
Jbarah made the move to NEOM, a fairly new team in the Saudi second division, to once again prove that she belongs at the top, alongside many other athletes from the region.
‘Marta is getting better and better, I won’t stop yet either’
Having amassed such a stellar number of international appearances for Jordan at 35 years old, the question naturally arises, when does retirement become something to consider?
“It’s an honour for me to present my country for 130 games,” Jbarah said. “When I look back to the games I played it’s like, wow, it’s been like 500 years.”
2021 WAFF World Championship.
Jbarah recalls the 20-year period between current day and her international debut against Bahrain in 2005. Despite being on the international stage for two decades, retirement can wait for now.
“When I look at Marta and she’s playing and now she’s getting better and better… She is my role model to just keep going and pushing for more from myself. I never forget any moment playing for the national team, or any moment playing football, or choosing this, this way of life, this career.”
It’s athletes like Jbarah who ensure young women and girls continue to become inspired to play sport in the Middle East and North Africa.
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Publish date : 2025-01-13 04:57:00
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