MONDAY-JUNE 21, 2021 Sport 05 Khalida's story: Playing football Gosens gains glorious revenge on for unity during EURO 2020 Ronaldo as Germany stun women in the refugee centers go- Portugal in Euro 2020 cracker ing through depression and stress and some of the women were try- ing to end their lives. It was so sad. I said to myself, ‘I don’t want to sit and cry’. No matter what happens to me, I don’t want to give up on my activism, on my mission to empower women and girls and also to use the power of sports to unite people, to unite women, and help women to be powerful and also be strong to manage to go through their diffi- cult situation. I remember that I felt that liv- ing in a refugee center is like you live as a person with no identity – you’re no-one. You’re not part of the country, even if you’re in a very well-developed country, you’re known as no-one. You Khalida Popal, former mem- Every time that they said ‘no’ ball Federation. don’t have anything and there are ber of the Afghanistan women’s to me playing football, I said that Football actually taught me a not so many activities. There are Robin Gosens once asked for Portugal Just moments later, Portugal national team, shares the story of I can prove to them that I can do certain type of activism, how I a lot of restrictions, and you have Cristiano Ronaldo's jersey after a Germany Euro 2020 GFX conceded another own goal, this how she fled her home country, it. Every time I played football, could use football as a way to own an unknown future, you don’t game between Atalanta and Juven- Low stuck to his guns, time from Raphael Guerreiro, af- experienced the healing power of the minute that the ball rolled, I my voice but also to support the know what is waiting for you. I tus. though, and was rewarded with a ter a clever cut-back from Kim- football and how she is now using started feeling happy, I started other women in my country to felt that living in a refugee center I The five-time Ballon d'Or spectacular display. mich. the beautiful game to empower feeling disconnected from all these own their voices. That’s how ac- was like a doll hanging in the air, winner didn't even look at the With Germany, and Kimmich By that stage, it was abun- young people from different back- challenges and problems I had as tivism started in me - through foot- where I could not land on my feet, German as he said no. in particular, taking a leaf out of dantly clear that the Seleccao had grounds through the Football for a refugee, as a child, when I had ball. I could not fly in the sky, but I "I was completely blushed the Atalanta playbook by switch- a major problem with Germany's Unity project with FC Nordsjæl- problems in society as a woman, My activism and activities was hanging, and I didn’t know and ashamed," Gosens later wrote ing the play to the left flank at wing-backs, and Gosens in par- land. as a girl. put me in great danger, so I could what to do. in his autobiography. "I went every opportunity, Gosens ran ticular. Yet Portugal proved utter- Football for Unity is a project When I was no longer allowed not live any longer in my country, Then I said to myself, ‘I have away and felt small." riot. ly incapable of doing anything co-funded by the European to play football on the street with and I had to leave. It was not only to help myself and also help oth- His latest meeting with Ronal- Portugal actually took the about it. Union’s Asylum, Migration and my brothers, I was determined not the people who are very religious ers.’ I had to again use the power do went a hell of a lot better. lead, and just 15 minutes in too, Indeed, within six minutes of Integration Fund and the UEFA to give up, but bring the passion, or extremist, but also people who of sport that helped me in tough Indeed, Gosens must have felt with Ronaldo tapping home after the restart, Muller played the ball Foundation for Children. the love that I experienced, to all were afraid of losing power to situations in my country. So, I ten-foot tall as he lapped up the Diogo Jota had latched on to a stun- into the path of the completely I grew up with the passion for the women and the girls my age women. That was a lot of pres- started bringing the ball again, and applause of the af- ning pass from Bernardo Silva. unmarked Gosens, who crossed football so they could also feel that expe- sure, and I wanted to save my then I started getting women and ter being replaced midway It meant that Ronaldo had for Havertz to slide home. I started playing street foot- rience. voice to make a bigger impact and girls involved, we were living in through the second half of Ger- equalled Miroslav Klose's record One would have presumed at ball with my brothers when I was Founder of the first national a bigger change, so I chose to leave the same center, I started knock- many's thrilling 4-2 defeat of Por- for most goals across the Europe- that point that Portugal would, at a child. I grew up and lived in a women’s football team in Afghan- my country. ing on the doors and saying, tugal. an Championship and World Cup the very least, try to get tighter to warzone, in Afghanistan, and then istan The challenges of being a ref- ‘Come on, get out, we are going to Just seconds beforehand, he combined (19). He just keeps Gosens but he was totally un- I left as a refugee when I was nine Then, I started a campaign at ugee run and then after running we’ll had risen majestically at the back making history, and he looks un- marked as he headed home Ger- years old. my school which spread to dif- I travelled to Norway, where go and do some football and then post to add a goal to the two as- likely to stop any time soon. many's fourth. Until I was a teenager, I lived ferent schools, and then went all I lived in different refugee centers, we’ll do some dancing.’ sists he had already racked up in a However, this was a disturb- Credit to Ronaldo, he helped in a refugee center as a refugee in the way to creating a kind of I experienced living as a refugee in I created my own organiza- remarkable comeback by the ingly disjointed display from the drag his side back into the game Pakistan, because of the war, and league around the schools. That’s a different way, as a grown-up tion, 'Girl Power' See P7 hosts. reigning champions. It was telling with a full-stretch assist for Jota, the only thing that could motivate how we started getting more in- woman. When I experienced it for Before the game, even Liver- that Ronaldo's goal represented who made it 4-2 from close range, me – keep me together – was volvement from the federation, the first time I was more of a child, cinch pool boss Jurgen Klopp had ques- the Seleccao's first shot on goal, but there was no doubt that the sport, especially football. pushing the federation to recog- and I didn’t feel it that deeply. tioned Germany's decision to and Jota's initial control their first game belonged to Gosens. When I returned to my coun- nize our league and then establish Living in a refugee center in Nor- Championships stick with the same team – and, touch in the Germany box. This was the night on which try, I played football with my a first women’s national team in way I felt so much pressure on more importantly, same formation Even by that stage, Gosens the highest-scoring defender in brothers on the street, because Afghanistan. women, the lack of social activi- 2021: Cameron – which had struggled to fashion was tormenting Nelson Semedo Europe's 'Big Five' leagues last football is the first game in my Every time I was pushed ties, the lack of interest in women openings in their tournament- and had already seen an acrobatic season announced himself on the country. back, I stood back up and I said: and girls. Norrie beats opener: a 1-0 loss to France. back-post volley disallowed for a international stage. At that time, I faced people 'I’m not giving up'. I was sure I Then I moved to Denmark, "Every coach has the right to handball by Thomas Muller in the He was head-and-shoulders trying to stop me from playing, could do it and could do it better. and in Denmark I also lived in ref- Denis play as he sees fit," Klopp told build-up. above every other player on the because I was no longer a child. I That drove me to find the first ugee centers. At that time, I was Mr Powell said pandemic-related unemployment benefits "appear to be" keeping potential workers at home, along with other factors like healthcare concerns and childcare or caring responsibilities. Magenta TV. "I would play a back He racked up his first assist pitch. was a grown-up woman and, be- national team of Afghanistan, suffering from depression and I Shapovalov to four with this team. 35 minutes in, volleying a Kim- This time, it was the true co- cause of that, they were trying to build women’s football in Afghan- was traumatized. Living in a refu- "I can imagine a midfield with mich cross into the six-yard area lossus of the game that is Cris- separate me from my team, which istan, develop women’s football, gee center, leaving your family and set up Queen's , and that Ruben Dias deflected into his tiano Ronaldo who was made to was a boys’ team – at that time, be the very first female employee everything behind you, it’s tough. final against Ilkay Gundogan doing extremely own net under pressure from Kai look relatively small. we didn’t have a girls’ team. So, in the history of the Afghanistan No matter how strong I was at well." Havertz. Goal people were telling me that I be- Football Federation, be the first that time, I felt like I was on my Matteo longed in the kitchen, I belonged female director, and be the first knees, and I was crying nights and at home, and I existed to serve a female and the youngest board days. Berrettini man and make a man happy. member of the Afghanistan Foot- Then I witnessed so many The 25-year-old is one match 2 positive COVID-19 cases prior away from claiming a first ATP Tour title after a 7-5 6-3 semi-fi- Naoya Inoue smashes Michael Dasmarinas nal victory over Canadian second to U.S. Olympic Track & Field seed Denis Shapovalov. with body shots to record a KO win in world The only other Brits to reach the Queen's final in the last 40 Trials bantamweight title defence years are Tim Henman and Andy One athlete and one non-par- The Japanese fighter scored a the second round to crunch home But Inoue hammered him Murray, and Murray remains the ticipant tested positive for COV- trio of knock-downs from body a left hook to the ribs that sunk with a third left hook to the ribs only one to lift the title since the ID-19 in the pre-event testing pro- shots, the third of which crum- Dasmarinas to the floor. and, when he sagged to the floor, Second World War. tocols leading up to the U.S. Olym- pled his rival in agony, to success- Dasmarinas, nicknamed 'Hot the referee saved him from fur- "It hasn't sunk in yet," con- pic Track & Field Trials, USA fully defend his IBF and WBA and Spicy', rose again wincing, ther punishment. fessed Norrie. "I think I played Track and Field announced Satur- bantamweight championships. and Inoue still had time in the Three-weight champion Inoue very, very good today and I'm so day morning. Inoue is among the world's round to sting him again. could now look ahead to an un- pleased to get into the final. Both people who tested pos- elite pound-for-pound fighters and Inoue whipped Dasmarinas disputed title fight. "I can't really describe it, it's itive were asymptomatic and ful- his clinical power punching dis- with the exact same body shot in Nonito Donaire, who gave In- nice to get over the line. It's a huge ly vaccinated. Both individuals play in Vegas showed why - he the third round and sunk him to oue his toughest test so far in a tournament for me. I couldn't be were immediately placed into the now has 18 KOs in 21 fights as a the canvas again. 2019 thriller, recently won the more pleased with myself." isolation protocol. Contact trac- former light-flyweight, an un- All hope looked lost for the WBA title at the age of 38 and is The British number two made ing was performed and no addi- heard-of ratio of stoppages. Filippino challenger, who had next set to face dangerous Filip- a nervy start as two double faults tional Olympic Trials participants 'The Monster' was on the trained at the Wild Card gym made pino John Riel Casimero owns the and two unforced errors gifted were affected. prowl from the opening bell and famous by Manny Pacquiao, but WBO belt. Shapovalov a break of serve in the USA Track and Field said in it took him until midway through he bravely got up again. Skysport opening game. an email Saturday that it could not But Norrie retrieved the break provide further details on the pos- emphatically to love and then took itive tests. a tight first set with a stunning USA Track and Field is using player to win the award. He led ing second in batting average, sixth backhand down the line which left the Premier Medical Group for the Ducks to a second-place fin- in hits per game and seventh in Shapovalov on his backside. COVID-19 testing during the Tri- ish in the Pac-12 Conference and slugging percentage and hits. Shapovalov, who had to fin- als and estimated 12,000 tests will its first NCAA Tournament ap- Fiddler's Green Golf Center ish his rain-interrupted quarter- be completed over the 13-day pearance since 2015. has seen three holes in one on its final against American Frances period. Zavala led Oregon in batting course in the past week. Tiafoe earlier in the day, needed Oregon sophomore outfielder average (.392), runs (64), hits (78), treatment on his left leg early in On Monday, Ralph Christen- Aaron Zavala added two more all- walks (50), stolen bases (11), on- son of Junction City used a pitch- the second. American honors when he was base percentage (.525) and slug- The world number 14 was ing wedge to ace the 120-yard named to the American Baseball ging percentage (.626). He set sin- second hole for his third ace in 11 powerless to stop Norrie claim- gle-season school records for on- Coaches Association first team on years of golfing. ing another notable scalp in what Saturday, one day after being base percentage, runs and walks. On Tuesday, Kathy Lighty has been a stunning season so far named a first team all-American He also had nine home runs and got her first hole in one in 20 years - he has now won 29 matches this by Perfect Game. 38 RBIs. year, more than any other player Zavala was the Pac-12 Con- He led the Pac-12 Conference of golfing by acing the 65-yard on the Tour except for Russia's ference Player of the Year this sea- in on-base percentage, walks and 17th hole. Andrey Rublev. son, becoming the first Oregon base on balls per game, while rank-