After many attempts, we were able to organise this small but symbolically important programme. Symbolically important because it is essential for young women players living with a disability to know that, outside Nepal, there are professional women football players who, despite some hurdles for equal payment and treatment, are highly successful and showing the way
It happens every four years, and it is gaining popularity with millions of people watching it passionately. I am talking about the FIFA Women's World Cup that recently wrapped up, and I really did not want to miss it.
It is not that I was planning to visit Australia and New Zealand, the two hosting nations, nor could I find the time to watch the games. Yet it would have been unforgivable if we did not manage to organise an afternoon with our football team made up entirely of young deaf women and watch with them one of the games on TV.
First, we tried with a five star hotel that had been showing a lot of sensitivity in the past towards disabilities, but unfortunately it did not work. Because the idea was good, we tried to approach another big hotel, thinking that an international chain could easily arrange this event. Here we did not even hear back from them. Now out of desperation and frustration, we approached one of the several cafés and bars broadcasting sports events.
I visited it and spoke with the staff, and then I was given the number of the manager that at the moment was not on the site. I called this person in the evening and after introducing myself, I started hearing her laughing and then the line fell. I tried to call again, but the manager picked it up and then again the line fell. I am not sure if she intentionally laughed at me and put the phone down, but certainly, I did not hear back from the manager.
At this point I was getting frustrated also because the World Cup was already in its advanced stage and was about to wrap up soon. Indeed, a few days were left before the grand finale that was to be played on the 20 th of August in Sydney.
The time difference between New South Wales where Sydney is located and Nepal was perfect because the game would be broadcast live here at 3.45pm. No better time to invite the girls after college and not too late for them to safely return home.
On the evening of August 11, I sent a mail to the Yak & Yeti Hotel. It was my pitch to organise the event with our female football team. Then, a few days after, I got an unexpected call and it was the Yak & Yeti informing that the management was indeed interested to host our small event. When I hung up the phone, I almost felt like I was winning the FIFA World Cup myself.
Finally, after so many attempts, we were able to organise this small but symbolically important programme. It was symbolically important because we believed that it is essential for young women players living with a disability to know that, outside Nepal, there are professional women football players who, despite some hurdles for equal payment and treatment, are highly successful and showing the way. In short, all the players at the World Cup were an example and inspiration.
Some of the teams playing had to face huge issues to be in the finals, not only the lack of a level playing field but also persistent and systematic discrimination and harassment. Even the most celebrated among the teams, the USA, until recently, had to wage a war against the American Federation for equality in full payment. But women are strong and resilient in this world dominated by men. What, during the game' award celebrations, the President of the Spanish Football Federation did is just an example of ignorance and lack of self-control in a world of football where disparity of power is still persistent.
In short, women football players around the world are thriving despite being the sport or better, let's call it for what it is, the industry being dominated by very arrogant, misogynist and simply dumb men. We really wanted to give this message that, despite all these challenges, women football is growing, and it is attracting millions of fans.
Obviously, we know that in Nepal female athletes still face so many struggles, and among them, there are more than a dozen players who are deaf but have a huge passion for the sport. These girls do not have many chances at playing games, and, only very recently, they played, for the first time, in a tournament with peers living without disabilities.
This was a big deal and it happened thanks to the work of our incredible coaches at Engage.
More recently, again thanks to our coaches, last Saturday Chelsea World School invited them to have a scrimmage game with their junior team and it was very nice. Now back to the FIFA Women's World Cup final. It was truly an amazing afternoon, and the way we were all welcomed and treated by the staff at Yak & Yeti was amazing, even beyond our expectations. A new ENGAGE Sport Coach, Prabin, also joined the game, and we could not think of a better way for him to join our programme. For us, it was also a way to create some awareness on disability rights and the power of sports for social inclusion with an important corporate house in the capital city. It was also about a way to establish new connections, enabling the staff of the hotel to forge some relationships with some young but enthusiastic football players.
Indeed, the corporate sector can play a huge role to level the playing field for young persons living with disabilities. The first step is to break the ice and build some bridges, and this is what happened during that afternoon.
What's next?
Possibly more games for our team and perhaps also a challenge to the staff of Yak & Yeti to come to a futsal court and play against some of the most determined and passionate football players Nepal has ever had. Surely it would be really fun. Stay tuned.
Galimberti is the co-founder of ENGAGE
