FAIZA HEIDAR, who had previously captained Egypt’s national women’s team, is now gearing up to coach a men’s soccer club in the country. She signed a deal with the fourth division side Ideal Goldi, which is based in Giza. With this, Heidar became the first woman to train one of the country’s professional men’s soccer clubs.

Speaking about her journey as a female sportsperson, Heider said, “There is usually some mockery at the beginning. But then they realize that they will learn something, that they will develop their skills.”

Heider played as a midfielder in the Egyptian Female Football National Team and was also the team’s captain.

Heidar revealed that she was the first Egyptian coach across genders to secure the Premier Skills Coach Educator status, certified by England’s Premier League. “The turning point for me was the Premier Skills program,” Heidar said. “Its core intention is to help coaches develop their community through sports, improve their employment chances, and it has children and social integration at the heart of it all.” (SD-Agencies)