ISLAMABAD: To celebrate International Day for Sports for Development and Peace, members of the Pakistan Women’s National Football Team played 16 minute football matches with ambassadors and diplomats on Sunday.

Four teams of six players each from the national team, women’s football club Young Rising Rawalpindi, ambassadors, diplomats and UN dignitaries took part in 16 minute matches.

The teams HeforShe and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG5) qualified for the final match and both teams tied at 2-2. The match was then decided on penalty kicks for which both teams had three chances each. Team HeforShe scored two penalty kicks and the captain of the team, Hajra Khan, stopped two penalty kicks and won her team the trophy.

The other teams, Planet 50-50 and UNiTE put up good competition.

In her address later, the ambassador of Austria, Brigitta Blaha, said though football was not a big sport in Pakistan, she said she hoped that women’s team would succeed and make it big.

“I see good, young, talented players with a lot of spirit and I hope they make something of the game,” she said.

Former captain of the Pakistan National Football Team, Sana Mahmud also spoke at the event and said football had made her the person she was today.

“This is more than just competition. Football has brought all of us from across the country together. It has given us an opportunity to know one another, become good friends and build memories. That in itself is an achievement,” she said.

She urged the government to invest in sport and give girls an opportunity to showcase their talent.

CEO of Serena Hotel Aziz Bolani said that sports also contribute towards gender equality, promotes peace, and empowers both men and women, all of which is needed for a country to progress.

Asmara Kiyani, a player, told Dawn that her younger sister plays football as well. Talking about the potential in the girl’s national team, Ms Kiyani said: “This is a good start. But if you have expectations from us then we need all the support we can get to make the country proud.”

Mejzgaan Orakzai, who is a striker in the national team said: “Women are contributing to all the fields in the country, so why not football. My family supports me in pursuing the game that I love.”

The game was hosted by UN Women and Serena Hotel.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2016