The Best Version Of Myself
Jafla Alhajri, Qatar
Jafla Alhajri is a Qatari football player and coach with Generation Amazing. As part of the GOALS program, Jafla tells the story of her father’s support for her playing, wearing the number 17 shirt, and her coaching philosophy.
Football has always been there in my life. I feel good when I am playing and watching. With football I have grown and developed as a person; it continues to challenge me.
My name is Jafla Alhajri and I was born in Al Rayyan, Qatar. My memories of childhood are happy ones with my family. My father was a football player, but he stopped too early to become a professional and would play with local teams. Every evening we would play football in our yard.
He is very important in my life; he is open-minded and has supported me in my decision-making. I am the third daughter and am supposed to be the smartest! As the youngest daughter, my father has given me special treatment and care; he is always my closest friend.
This special relationship and his encouragement empowered me to take my first steps in life with self-confidence.
We would always watch football together at home and sometimes we would go to the stadium with my uncle to watch Qatari league matches. We spent a lot of time criticizing the players’ performances!
My uncle is also a special person in my life. I wear the number 17 shirt because of him; this was his shirt number. This number has a big place in my heart and my life and is rooted in those early memories of playing football in our yard.
I became a big fan of football, and I would play as much as possible. At 9, I was the only girl in my family to play football. I went on to play with a high school team, and we won the title three years in a row.
This is what I mean about how I grew with football, my confidence was intertwined with my experiences on the field. I went on to play with a university team and then local football and futsal teams.
The last team I played with was Al Khor. We had many outstanding players from countries all over the world, including Lebanon, Tunisia, Nigeria, England, Oman, and South Korea. I met so many great players, and we stayed in touch and sometimes still play friendly games.
Football has challenged me to be the best version of myself that I can be. I believe in the saying, “good minds are in good bodies.”
In 2017 I joined Generation Amazing, the football for development program focusing on personal development through football.
It is funny to think about how I got involved. I was walking past a Generation Amazing workshop, so I stopped to talk to one of the people there, and I asked if the program could sponsor our University team.
Following this interaction, I was introduced to the head of the program. She said that she was looking for girls who are crazy about football, so I told her, “here, I have a whole team!”
I joined the program as a coach alongside some of my friends. One year later, I created my own Generation Amazing team to play in a futsal tournament at Qatar University - the biggest tournament for women in Qatar!
I am so proud to be part of this program and I am passionate about football's impact.
Football has such a powerful impact on young people. Every day, I can see the passion in their eyes. Every day, I see more improvements on the field. Every day, I see positive thoughts and creativity.
Creativity and patience has been key to improving as a coach and making me stronger as a leader. As a coach, I am still evolving. As a coach, it is about so much more than just football, it is about the vibes we create around us, from the football field into life.
Football is not just a tool, it is a lifestyle. It means approaching every day in a positive, healthy, and constructive way.
Women's football in Qatar is developing for sure. A lot of events and tournaments are happening and it will continue after the World Cup. I believe in the power of sports and how it can affect everything, especially in our education system.
