Bayan Sadagah Believes Saudi Women’s Soccer Is ‘Just Getting Started’
The Saudi Arabian Women's National Team participated in the WAFF Women's Championship for the first ... [+] time ever.
The eighth edition of the WAFF Women’s Championship wrapped up last week marking the Jordanian national team's sixth triumph as they secured a well-deserved win over Nepal in the final through a penalty shootout.
Held in Saudi Arabia, this championship proved to be a resounding success. The participation of eight national teams showcased the potential of women's soccer, with Jordan asserting their dominance in West Asia.
Additionally, the invitation of Nepal and Guam provided valuable insights into the contrasts between Arab and East Asian soccer.
However, if we were to emphasize a specific result from this edition, it would undoubtedly be Saudi Arabia's debut in the Women's WAFF soccer tournaments.
This milestone also signifies their inaugural participation in an official tournament since the team was established a few years ago.
The team’s captain, Bayan Sadagah, echoes my sentiments, stating, “it was our first participation in an official tournament. We’ve reached a new milestone.”
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Describing it as an eye-opening experience, Sadagah reflects on the tournament, saying, “the tournament has opened our eyes at the level we're currently at. It was a great opportunity to evaluate ourselves and the progress we’ve made so far. We played against well-established and more experienced teams and you only learn from such matches.”
Who Is Bayan Sadagah?
The Saudi Captain, born on November, 15 1994, is a Saudi professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and a forward for Saudi Women's Premier League club Al-Ittihad and the Saudi Arabia women's national team. She captains both teams.
A Pioneer Of The Game In The Kingdom
Bayan Sadagah (R) with her sister, Bireen.
Bayan Sadagah can rightfully regard herself as one of the prominent figures in women's soccer in Saudi Arabia.
A fervent soccer enthusiast since her childhood, Sadagah discovered in the game a means to "bond with my older sisters." Recalling her early years, she mentions, "I was around 8 years old at the time, and I remember how passionate we were about soccer. We used to spend our time playing in the compound."
Then, the family moved to Egypt and Sadagah became part of Arsenal’s academy and joined Wadi Degla, Egypt’s most successful women’s soccer team.
This marked a significant milestone in the 29-year-old midfielder's soccer career. Witnessing her coach represent Egypt as a player served as a source of inspiration and motivation for Sadagah.
Saudi Arabia women's team captain, Bayan Sadagah, shares with me her journey, saying, "I was mentored by my female coach who played for the Egyptian National Team, and I remember telling my sister that I want to be able to do that for my country," reflecting on her aspirations following the 2024 Women’s WAFF Championship.
Returning to Jeddah, the sisters’ love for the game continued to intensify.
As the demand for soccer increased, the older sister, Bireen, took the initiative in 2014 to establish a women's soccer club: Jeddah Eagles.
Sadagah recalls, “we played friendly matches and took part in unofficial leagues. Then, as more teams formed and the federation’s support increased, that’s where I guess history was made.”
In 2022, several years down the line, and following the Jeddah Eagles' demonstration of success, Saudi Arabia's prominent club, Al-Ittihad, acquired the team and integrated it into its roster of teams.
A Nurse Turned Professional Soccer Player
For long, Bayan Sadagah, 29, had to balance her job as a nurse in an emergency department, her training sessions, and her obligations with her club, Al Ittihad, and the national team.
“For a very long time, while soccer was still developing in the country, I was still working as a nurse in an emergency department, 12 hours shifts, so at that time, I was basically balancing between 2 very demanding lifestyles. On one hand it was my job and my career, and on the other, it was my love and passion for soccer.”
Luckily for Bayan, the unmatched investment from the federation helped her dedicate her time to her sporting career.
“If it wasn't for the way we're being supported in the Kingdom, and this feeling you get of having a promising future, I would have never left nursing.”
Women’s Soccer in Saudi Arabia
Five years later, thanks to individual initiatives like Bireen’s, Bayan Sadagah's sister, women's soccer in Saudi Arabia has reached an all-time high.
In 2019, the Saudi Arabian Soccer Federation (SAFF) established the women's soccer department, organized various championships, founded a national team, and established regional training centers to nurture young girls in the sport.
Monika Staab, the legendary German soccer manager, played a significant role in this transformative journey.
Initially recruited as the national team's inaugural coach, Staab currently serves as the technical director of the women's department.
Saudi Arabia's Bayan Sadagah (L) celebrates her goal with her coach Monika Staab. (Photo by -/AFP ... [+] via Getty Images)
When asked about Staab, Sadagah smiles, acknowledging the indispensable role she has played in the development of the game in the country.
“Monika was our first coach and we owe her a lot. She is a very determined in the way she wants to improve us. She has this mentality of wanting to push us beyond our limits. She's an icon in the women's game and we know we're lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. she set the base of our current national team.”
Working With Lluis Cortes
When your aspirations match the grand vision of the Saudi Arabian Soccer Federation, it becomes imperative to secure the best manager to propel you forward.
In Lluis Cortes, SAFF found their mastermind.
Aitana Bonmati, Laia Codina, Alexia Putellas, and Lluis Cortes. (Photo by Fran Santiago - UEFA/UEFA ... [+] via Getty Images,)
As the former manager of Barcelona women's team, he boasts two Spanish Liga F titles, a Spanish Cup win, a UEFA Women's Champions League title, and the honor of being named UEFA's Coach of the Year for 2021/2022. Quite an impressive CV, isn't it?
Cortes assumed the role of the women's national team head coach in December 2023, and this WAFF Championship served as his inaugural official test in charge of the team.
Despite the group-stage exit, the Spaniard's impact on the team was unmistakable.
For Sadagah, working with a widely acclaimed coach who “played a huge part in the lives of female soccer icons and is now here to develop us is really inspiring. It pushes us to want to make ourselves better every day, as players but also as humans.”
Representing Al-Ittihad’s Black and Yellow
Al Ittihad players celebrate victory after the women's Premier League match between Al Ahli FC v Al ... [+] Ittihad FC. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
On a club level, Sadagah takes pride in representing Jeddah's Al-Ittihad, a team competing in the Saudi Women's Premier League. She shares the pitch with notable players such as Ashleigh Plumptre, Leighanne Robe, Salma Amani, and Nor Mustafa.
Reflecting on the experience, she notes, “having the professional foreigners in the league is also helping us. Playing and training with them pushes you to put in the work individually every single day,” before adding, “it is important. This cultural diversity and the experiences of each player creates a positive environment in the team.”
The Saudi Women’s Premier League currently consists of eight clubs – Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Qadsiah, Al-Riyadh, Al-Shabab, Al-Ittihad, and Eastern Flames.
With coverage by DAZN, the league is drawing attention from global stars.
The roster includes Bayan's teammate, the Nigerian international Ashleigh Plumptre, a former Leicester City defender, Lina Boussaha, who joined Al Nassr from Paris Saint-Germain partly due to the French Soccer Federation’s hijab ban, and Salma Amani, Morocco’s World Cup goal scorer.
Additionally, players like Aminata Diallo, Leighanne Robe, and Oriana Altuve contribute to the league's international talent pool.
For Bayan, women’s soccer in Saudi Arabia is “just getting started.”
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