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Filmmakers Talal Mahmood and Maram Jaberi have recorded a documentary with the aim of highlighting the lives of the kingdom’s ‘goal-den girls’ and to document the successful progress of Bahrain Football Association’s (BFA) first Women’s Football League.
The 33-minute-long video, entitled The First Ladies, highlights the trials and tribulations that women players go through on a daily basis from arranging kits, organising home life, to preparing for a game.
It also showcases the passion and heart that each competitor has for the game, breaking down barriers about Arab women in the sport.
The idea came to Talal, a 32-year-old director and art director while working with Khalifa Shaheen Productions. Talal, from Riffa, said: “I am part of the Ravens FC coaching staff and this is where the idea came to me, because the players’ stories were so interesting and their passion was so great that it made me want to share it with the world.
“Also, we want to show that football is a ‘gender neutral’ sport that can be enjoyed by both men and women and that the ladies in this film have so much passion and respect for it.
“We want to break the stereotype that Arab women have in connection with football and make people aware of this sub-culture that exists on this tiny island we live on. I believed this was a unique opportunity to capture historical moments regarding the progress of women and football in Bahrain.
“It is the perfect vessel to create awareness not only for a new audience but for new players and talented women to become a part of an official league.”
Talal called upon Maram, 26, a videographer, director and producer, to help plan a proposal to present to the BFA and Sheikha Hessa Khalid Al Khalifa, who is head of the women’s committee at the association. Be a part of this project, said: “I felt like this was a very important subject for me, not just as a filmmaker, but as a woman.
“We want people, and especially the local community, to know that there is a movement taking place and that it is being organised at an official level by the BFA.
“There were people who were surprised to hear about the subject of our film because they had no idea that the BFA Women’s Football League was happening on a weekly basis.
“We definitely want our viewers to not only become more aware but also to appreciate it and take an active role in supporting these talented and passionate women.”
Pre-production started in January with Maram shooting and producing while Talal directed and edited. They filmed games and practice sessions as well as interviewed different players, following them on a regular basis throughout the season.
Talal said: “My favourite moment of filming was all the interviews.
“It was so great to get to know more about their lives, their sacrifice and their passion for the sport.
“The answers that we received also provided great feedback for the BFA and, in turn, made them decide to increase their support for the ladies next season.”
The documentary focused on shadowing Ravens FC captain Rama Salem and through her experiences link in the rest of the players participating.
Maram said: “Rama acted as a pivotal point as she drove the plot forward.
“It was such a great experience filming her at home and seeing the other side of her, one that juggles work and home-life alongside her sporting passion.”
Graphic designer Rama, 29, from Saar, loved being a part of the documentary. She said: “We are a small community that wants to encourage more girls and women to join the footballing body and this documentary shows how passionate everyone involved really is.
“I think the aim of the documentary was to improve and create more focus on the future of women’s football in Bahrain.”
Others that appeared in the video included Sheikha Hessa, Tekkers’ founder, coach and Bahrain international Deena Rahman and John McKenzie, head coach at Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain, who was administering the league in partnership with the BFA.
The league was a spin-off from a GulfWeekly- sponsored initiative and involved seven strong squads competing for golden glory. Riffa took first place in the inaugural season with Talent coming runners-up. The Ravens FC, a newly-established team made up of players from the now defunct Arsenal Ladies team, took third place and received an award for the side with the ‘highest team spirit’ because of their attitude on-and-off the pitch.
Talal said: “The fact that this team was formed back in September and ended up finishing third only behind the two national teams was amazing.
“They were one of the only teams that showed how others should aspire to be in terms of sponsorship, social media presence and sportsmanship.”
The league resumes again in October. While the teams prepare for the upcoming season, Talal and Maram are planning to show the recording at international film festivals, as well as share it with FIFA, the sport’s governing body. They are also hoping to get it screened at one of the local cinemas.
They have sent a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all the players, coaches, referees and supporters for being so helpful during the recording.
Talal added: “We are also grateful for the support we received from BFA and Khalifa Shaheen productions.
“Sheikha Hessa Khalid Al Khalifa was extremely supportive of our idea and provided us with all the tools and access we needed to complete our film.”
