Dubai: Zayed University's (ZU) women's basketball team are set to represent the UAE for a second time at the Basketball World Cup for Universities in Valencia, Spain, this October.
The 15-member team will hold their flags high and enter what appears to be an ordinary basketball tournament to some, but is so much more to these women.
"Thirty years ago this never would have happened," said Noora Al Khalid, team captain of the ZU women's basketball team. "We are the first women's team to represent the UAE in an international sports tournament," she added.
Didn't come easy
However, like anything worth having, it has not been easy.
"Some girls face difficulties with their parents and miss out on tournaments because they aren't allowed to travel," she said.
Noora is the founder of the ZU women's basketball team and has been captain for five years. She admits that although it has been hard — with time — her parents have come to understand her love for sports.
"At first it was hard when we had games in different emirates but with time it got better," said Noora. "It's still not easy, but it's much better," she said.
She added that along with some of her teammates, she has received offers to play for the UAE's national women's basketball league but has had to decline. "Our parents won't allow it because it's more public," she said.
For Fatma Al Mudharreb, member of ZU women's basketball team, growing up in a sports-oriented family has helped.
"My family has been very supportive of sports since I was little, which helped," said Fatma. "I come to practice any time, and can travel and go to boot camps because my family is aware of what I'm doing and take it seriously," she added.
Proving themselves
The ZU team represented their country at the same tournament last year in Milan, Italy, but came in last place. However, their defeat only motivated them to work harder and aim higher.
"In Valencia we want them to see an improved and evolved team," said Wessem Chenoofi, ZU women's basketball coach. "We want to show them a true representation of the Emirati woman and that she has ambitions in sports," she added.
"Milan was a big challenge for us," said Noora. "Coming last has motivated us to get better because we were playing against professional national league players," she added.
"We want to represent our country and prove to them that we've improved a lot within a year," said Noora.
Yet, progress takes hard work. "We have three months left so we don't have any time for rest or holidays," said Chenoofi.
