It’s a spectacle in the conservative Gulf of Bahrain state: A young mother on an indoor basketball court gives orders to male players.
The 33-year-old, who is also a black belt in taekwondo, aspires to one day be head coach of the basketball team and then win the national championship.
“The presence of women in sports was considered strange, especially in basketball, which was considered a prerogative of men,” said Reyadh, wearing black tights and a loose-fitting gray T-shirt.
Today, she considers herself “any other basketball coach, me in myself. “
Several countries in the region have sought to melt a tough symbol in recent years, through extra sales in the workforce, arts and sport.
But it is rare for a woman to succeed at the top, and in conservative Gulf Arab monarchies, Reyadh’s position is staggering.
Reyadh inherited her love of the game from her mother, who coached a women’s basketball team.
Choosing her was “an ambitious and at the same time terrifying choice,” said the club’s technical director, Raouf Habil.
“Communication a bit complicated at first with the players, but over time it has become much easier,” he told AFP.
Society in Bahrain is much more open than in other Gulf states.
Official figures show that women, who represent 32% of the economically active population, held 54% of public service positions between 2010 and 2019.
Of the 24 government ministers, 4 are women, none of whom have a key portfolio.
Hussein Shaker, one of Al-Najma’s players, is steadfast in her role as coach of the women’s team.
“The talented Fatima Reyadh is an example of success for Bahraini women,” he said.
She said she expected “more examples” of women running with groups of men in her country, stressing that “I am totally in favour of women in sport. “
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