An 18-year-old soccer player from Saudi Arabia has become the first female brand ambassador for Adidas in the country.
Farah Jefry has been playing soccer for over 10 years, and has spent the last 3 with the Jeddah Eagles. Women’s soccer in Saudi Arabia is still in its infancy — the Women’s Football League (WFL) just completed its inaugural season — but Jefry is already turning heads with her speed and creativity.
Despite her age, she’s been with the Eagles for three years already. Being younger than her teammates was tough, she says. But equally tough was the pressure that comes with being a female footballer in Saudi Arabia. “Many people keep telling me that this sport isn’t for women. However, the way I view it is that this sport isn’t for a specific gender; just like any other sport, at the end of the day I’m doing what I love, and I shouldn’t be judged based on the fact that I am a woman.”
The midfielder told Arab News that she’d aways dreamt of becoming a professional soccer player, and that signing with Adidas was an honor. She hopes that being supported by a well-known company will inspire and encourage more female soccer players to follow in her footsteps.
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A piece of advice she gives other soccer players is to be consistent and practice as much as possible.
“Don’t be discouraged by people or opinions – there might be some obstacles, but in the end, it is all worth it. If you’re passionate enough just chase your dream. Everything else will align with that sooner or later,” she said.
