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Dynamic Deena Rahman was handed the captain’s armband of her adopted home country for the first time and lined up alongside a young player in the Bahrain national team she first coached shortly after arriving in the kingdom.
The national ladies team were unbeaten in a quick succession of three fixtures against the visiting Maldives squad staged last week at the National Stadium in Riffa.
The Egyptian-British soccer star, who became a proud Bahraini, was snapped up by national team manager Shaikha Hussa Al Khalifa in 2011 after practicing with the girls at the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) headquarters.
Since then, Rahman, Tekkers Academy owner and director, has earned 21 official caps, played 30 matches with the team and hopes to add to the tally.
The 32-year-old midfield maestro said: “While I know that my playing career is limited in terms of years, I do hope that I can continue with the national team for as long as possible. They are a great group of girls who have really welcomed me into the squad.
“My frustrations always come at not being able to train with them as much as I would like to, however, I really do feel a part of their family and the work Shaikha Hussa does to provide us with opportunities to travel and play is brilliant.
“Bahrain is a part of me now and the players and members of staff are my family. To play for Bahrain is, of course, an honour but to wear the captain’s armband is like gold dust! It’s a moment that will stay with me forever.
“The moral of this message is to aim high and give everything to your team when you step on to the pitch.”
Last week, the ladies played the Maldives in three friendly matches and during the second encounter Rahman was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to wear the coveted captain’s armband to lead the younger string of girls.
She said: “Our number one goalkeeper played for the first 10 minutes. When she was substituted and started to leave the pitch, she handed me the captain’s armband. It was just a one-off and our regular captain Yasmine will always remain as captain … but, of course, I was delighted to have had that opportunity and it was a pleasure to play and guide the youngsters on the pitch with me.”
One of the team members on the occasion was Rahman’s former pupil, Noor Anwar. It was a happy week for the 17-year-old AMA International School student who made her full international debut last week after first learning the art of the game under Rahman’s tutelage back in 2010.
Rahman said: “One of the highlights of last week was the debut of Noor. When I started coaching in Bahrain in 2010, she was one of the first girls to attend my sessions and continued to do so for about a year. She was 11 at the time and I knew then she had a promising future in the game and she quickly progressed into the national youth set-up.
“About a year ago, Noor was involved in a car crash on her way home from national team training with two other players. She sustained a badly broken thigh, which she has had major surgery on, including pins in her bone.
“Now she has made her way back to full fitness and it was her first full international cap for the senior team. I had the pleasure of playing with her in central midfield in one of the matches. She has improved a lot and has a bright future ahead of her if she continues to progress and I predict she will be a main player of the future team.”
Anwar was also delighted and took to social media to thank her mentor. She said: “Thank you so much Deena! I’ve learned a lot from you through the years! I’m so lucky that I got the chance to play alongside you. Love you loads, champ!”
It was a nostalgic moment for the national team who first played Maldives in 2007. According to Rahman, going up against the exotic island at various pitches across the kingdom including Hamad Town, Riffa Club and the BFA, brought back some treasured memories for many of the girls.
She said: “The scores then included an 8-0 defeat and a 1-1 draw. This time, we beat them 4-0, drew 0-0 and then won again 1-0. Our girls have progressed well.”
The national ladies team has been invited to visit the Maldives in April for return fixtures. “I have never been there so I am hoping I will be selected and able to make the trip,” she added.
Rahman was one of the first to set up a programme for football-loving girls in Bahrain, in a league sponsored at the time by GulfWeekly.
At the age of 15 she was selected to play for England’s Under-16s and was quickly recruited by the nation’s under-18s where she gained a further 18 caps.
FIFA, which governs world football, allows players to play for an adopted country provided they have not played at a senior international level for their home country.
Rahman’s first footballing wish came true when she signed a professional contract with Fulham Ladies, under the then chairmanship of flamboyant Mohamed Al Fayed.
Ankle injuries then left her on the sidelines and she moved to Egypt with her dad, Maher, who encouraged her to continue playing. Rahman signed up for the Wadi Degla Club, associated with the Arsenal Soccer School in Egypt. During her time there she also took up coaching and helped the U20 national team.
After one year of playing with the club, Rahman suffered an agonising injury. She ruptured a ligament in her knee and had to return to England for rehabilitation.
While in England she continued her coaching development with Arsenal which led to an opportunity to join the soccer school in Bahrain. Rahman moved to the kingdom in 2010 where she started coaching boys and girls from the ages of five to 19. She also developed a ladies programme.
Now she is balancing her coaching role at Tekkers Academy Bahrain and playing with the women’s national team. Rahman lives in Zallaq and is married to Radio Bahrain football analyst Paul Shipwright, who founded Tekkers with her.
