QINGDAO - For many, soccer is just a game. But for Rukhsar Rashid, it's about life, her dreams ... and national pride.

"If there was no football, I would get married and take care of housework, children and have a husband like many other Pakistan women are doing," said Rashid, head coach of Pakistan's Diya Women's Football Club.

The team is competing at the ongoing Gothia Cup China in Qingdao.

DWFC is the first female soccer club in Pakistan, founded by physical education teacher Sadia Sheikh in 2002.

"Diya means lamp in Urdum. It is a symbol of light and thereby hope," said Rukhsar.

"Sadia, the club's founder, wants to bring more light into Pakistani girls' lives."

Because she is studying in America, Sadia was unable to accompany the team to Qingdao

Born in Pakistan, she loved soccer growing up in Sharjah. Coming back to Pakistan with her parents during college, she found there were no female sports in Pakistan.

Sadia told her father that she wanted to play soccer and start a team, but her father declined.

"In Pakistan, girls don't always go outside. They are supposed to get married and take care of housework, children and their husbands," Rukhsar said.

"It would be a crazy idea for Pakistani parents to let their daughters play football."

After years of fighting, Sadia realized her dream. The team had only five players initially, but she gradually recruited more.

"If Sadia meets a talented girl who wants a tryout, she goes to her home to persuade her parents," Rukhsar said.

Rukhsar, who liked running, jumping and climbing in her childhood, met Sadia in 2010.

"She saw that I could work hard and told me to join her club. I was so excited, although I didn't know anything about football at that time," Rukhsar said.

Her enthusiasm quickly evaporated after her father refused her request to play, and her brother and brother-in-law laughed at her.

Sadia went to Rukhsar's home and talked with her father.

The team founder promised to provide transportation fees, a uniform and shoes. Rukhsar's father finally relented.

He did not regret that decision, as he watched his daughter become head coach of the club and also a physical education instructor in private schools.

"DWFC has trained many girls like me. We get new lives, thanks to football and Sadia," she said.

"After football training with the club, we are courageous, not only on the field but also in life. Playing the game gives us strength and confidence."

DWFC has more than 80 players in the program now, but finances are usually a tricky matter because the club pays study costs, transportation and equipment fees and other incidentals for each of them.

While working as a PE teacher, Sadia also coaches in private schools in the evening and has a government job, just to keep the money rolling to organize soccer events for her club.

"Everyone in the club is deeply touched by Sadia's hard work, and we have no reason not to work as hard as we can," Rukhsar said.

The daily two-hour training sessions on a muddy pitch can be taxing, "but everyone trains hard and is very happy about football," Rukhsar said.

"When girls are playing football, they can quickly throw away all stresses and restrictions."

With the development of DWFC, a few Pakistani parents have changed their opinion about women's soccer and have begun to send their daughters to play.

"We have made some big achievements in international games, like reaching the quarterfinals in the Norway Cup last year, and we dream of making the country proud of us," said Rukhsar.

(China Daily 08/20/2018 page23)