From Player To Coach

Ahlam Aley Al Marjeby, Oman

Ahlam Aley Al Marjeby is an Omani football coach with Muscat Women’s Football Club. Muscat Club was founded in 1986 as a men’s football club, gradually incorporating other women’s sports. In 2020 the club adopted the Oryx women’s football community, creating Muscat Women’s Football Club.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current football life?

My name is Ahlam Aley Al Marjeby. I am from Oman. I currently work full time as a data analyst. But my passion outside of work is playing and coaching football. I am currently a certified AFC level B coach and the first Omani woman to achieve this certification. I coach Muscat Women’s Football Club and I also coach in the academy with the U12 girls.

What has your football journey been like up until now?

As far as I can remember football was always my passion. My dad was a football player and I guess I got the love of the game from him. We always watched football together, especially the World Cup and the Gulf Cup.

I started playing football in the streets as early as I can remember. I always played with the boys, but as I grew older I realised that opportunities were not there for women and girls to continue playing. However, when I finished college I heard there was a club called Bousher that had opened a team for women’s footballers. I joined the team around 2006, and I have been playing since then. We were not professional footballers, it was just a hobby and a passion of mine.

In 2016, I got an opportunity to get my first coaching certification in futsal and I became a coach. I decided that if I cannot be a football player, I can be a coach to pave the way for others to follow their dreams and have a safe space to practise the love of the game.

What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning with the photos?

I tried to capture the essence of my training sessions and how passionate we are about football. The photos were taken at the academy where I coach and at Muscat WFC.

Some of the photos remind me of proud moments from this team - from where we started, how we came together, and what we have achieved so far. I feel the players’ commitment and passion and I feel proud to be their coach. No matter how difficult things get, and no matter how busy you get, you should always take a moment to breathe and smile because life is good. Life is football and football is life.

I like helping people who want to develop their skills. There is one person, Maram, who supports the team as an Admin. She expressed her interest in wanting to be a coach. I have taken a personal interest in showing her the ropes of the game from all the different tactics, drills and techniques used in coaching and what it takes to be a coach.

Training is important for the overall body, health and mind of the individual, as it gives a person a better understanding and perspective of the game. It also develops them into being more disciplined and I believe it helps them become better citizens and a person as whole.

Why and how did Muscat WFC begin?

Muscat WFC was established in 2020. Before it was created, many of the girls were playing together and created a community called Oryx. They played together for three years before they approached Muscat FC who agreed to take them under their wing. The fact the girls were dedicated for three years and trained weekly and never gave up on the game, despite not having an official club, shows how passionate they are.

What role does football play in your life and in your community?

Football plays a big role in shaping the community by introducing discipline, character, development, togetherness and building some sense of purpose and belonging. At the moment women’s football is picking up in Oman so there are plenty of opportunities for all different ages. More academies are opening up and targeting girls and women to practise football, and more tournaments are being developed.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

In the future I want to continue my coaching journey and get certified as a professional coach. I also aspire to be an international football instructor where I am able to give certified football courses. The future looks promising for women’s football in Oman. Things are changing and awareness of the game and the passion of the players is growing.