Most people gush when I proudly say I’m a football fan and that I want to be a football journalist. Not many Emirati women want to get into the football world. However, I do still get mixed reactions from some people, either supporting me or hatred. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You can call me a fangirl, but I’m obsessed with football.
My journey
As a child, football was the last thing I had in mind – I was into the fairy-tale Disney movies.
It all started with the World Cup in 1998. My father was watching the final game between Brazil and France.
I was curious about the game. The extreme excitement; the adrenaline; who is going to win and who is going to lose. As I sat next to my dad, he explained the rules to me, talking about each individual player and their jobs.
I was 8 years old. Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane and Emmanuel Petit: they’re the reasons that I got into football.
My father is a huge football fan and my uncle was a goalkeeper for Al Nasr club. I’m glad to have a footballing family background.
I grew up watching the UAE and international leagues, specifically the English Premier League, La Liga and sometimes Serie A, at the times when Alessandro Del Piero was playing.
My favourite teams
I started to support Manchester United at the time of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham.
My father was initially a Liverpool fan, who wouldn’t stop bugging me about the legend Ian Rush. Afterwards, I began following Real Madrid when Zidane signed for them in 2001.
My reason for loving Manchester United is foremost their winning mentality. They also have an excellent youth system and most of these players devote themselves to the club and stay – for example, Giggs, Scholes and Gary Neville.
Oh, and the former mastermind of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, who had a strong winning mentality and a relentless drive.
My other team is Real Madrid. It’s the biggest club in the world.
Clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United enticed me the most – it’s about the team and their attitude.
Football is my comfort, the tears I cry, the laughs I share, the anger I unleash and the happiness I spread.
It’s not just a game – it’s my life and who I am. I’m not just a fan – I’m part of my teams’ journeys.
Football is not just a game – it’s a magnificent sport and it gives me joy.
Maryam Ahmad Al Shamsi, 24, is a journalist who is currently an intern with The National.
If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Shireena Al Nowais on salnuwais@thenational.ae
