Shamsa wants more girls in volleyball

Shaikha Shamsa Bint Hasher Bin Mana Al Maktoum, who created history when she became the first Shaikha to be elected to a sports association, has urged girls in the UAE to take up volleyball.

"I want UAE girls to be brave and practice sport and volleyball in particular," she told the Gulf News during an interview. "The volleyball association is supporting ladies volleyball and wants to see it spreading across the UAE."

However, according to the Shaikha: "This would not happen if you don't play volleyball. I say this for national girls and even the expatriates."

Shaikha Shamsa, who was elected to the UAE Volleyball Association's Board of Directors, is passionate about the sport and determined to see it grow.

"Initially I was not interested in entering the elections," she revealed. "But Rashid Bal Houl, the Al Wasl board chairman, told me that the board wanted to nominate me. I told him that if they thought that I would be useful and could contribute to the development of volleyball, then I was willing to be nominated."

Shaikha Shamsa supports board chairman Mohammad Jalfar's promise that the new board will spare no effort to make the volleyball the second most popular game in the UAE after football.

"If we get financial support from companies and establishments, we can organise league tournaments and form a strong national team," she said. "But how can we form a national team if we don't have the players and a regular league for ladies?"

Shaikha Shamsa, who realised her love for volleyball when she was in elementary school, said that it was important for expatriate women to participate in volleyball.

"We have to allow foreign players who are living in the UAE to play, so that our girls can gain experience from them," she said.

Reacting to complaints that there was a lack of financial support to form ladies teams, Shaikha Shamsa said: "We have only two clubs supporting ladies volleyball: Al Wasl and Al Ahli. I hope all the UAE clubs form ladies teams.

"I also have an idea on how to acquire players and financial support. Each club can adopt a ladies school in their area from where they can get the players. The financial support can come from a company. In this way the clubs would address the two main issues players and financial support."

Asked if it was suitable for national girls to play volleyball, Shaikha Shamsa said: "I think it is not against out traditions and customs to play volleyball, provided you wear appropriate clothing. But I would like to stress that all players must be dressed in a decent manner."

Shaikha Shamsa said that some people may think that it strange to form a ladies team in a men's club but "parents have begun to understand that their daughters are being well looked after at Al Wasl club."

Shaikha Shamsa also revealed that the Al Wasl ladies volleyball team would represent the UAE in the Fourth Islamic Ladies Games in Tehran, from September 22-28.

"Two weeks ago we received a letter from the National Olympic Committee (NOC) inviting us to send a ladies team to the Games," she said. "They should have contacted us earlier so that we could be better prepared.

"Some players are on leave and others have examinations. However, we have agreed to participate, but only to gain experience. It will be difficult to secure a top place."