Inadequate infrastructure, gender inequality major bottlenecks for Kashmiri women footballers

Srinagar, April 10: The women footballers in Kashmir are struggling with inadequate infrastructure and gender inequality to continue their careers in a sport that is otherwise seen to be a male bastion.

Nadia Nighat, one of Kashmir’s few known female footballers and now a coach, took her first steps on a journey not paved with opportunity but carved out of difficulties. Nighat hails from Srinagar and has had to challenge gender inequality in sports ever since she fell in love with football.

“To be honest, at times, I have had extremely low moments during my practice and training years because of lack of support and societal pressure,” she says. “But I never lost the hope to keep playing. After all, we play for the passion of football. My dream is to train young girls and new players as long as possible, irrespective of gender.”

“I remember, in 2013, I missed a final at Srinagar’s Polo Ground,” she recalls. “The opposition team questioned my inclusion in a team of boys, I used to play in a boy's team but was not able to play that time and that moment left me heartbroken.” 

“We still have no specific ground for women to practice on,” she says, recalling her early days and the situation now. “We practice on the rugby ground meant for boys in the Polo Ground.” Her words expose an uncomfortable truth: in a game that requires space and vision, women athletes in Kashmir are given neither. 

Since having featured in the Guardian in a 2020 article, she says circumstances have still not changed that much for women but she remains hopeful and persistent. 

When Nadia began playing, it was with boys. There was less infrastructure or support for girls in football. And when rare opportunities did come, they left just as fast. She remembers, how stigma put roadblocks in her path. Nadiya has since participated in multiple state-level championships and in the prestigious National Senior and Indian Women’s League. She remembers when she played for Jammu and Kashmir in 2023, managing a single draw against Ladakh but the team lost the rest of the matches.

Coach Aijaz Ahmed, who manages the Kashmir downtown arrows club for boys and girls, speaks with cautious hope. “The girls who come to train under us are very persistent. There is no age barrier to join our club. They travel from far-off areas like Budgam, Pampore, and the outskirts of Srinagar,” he says. “Though parental support is still a major disconnect. Parents and society are slowly beginning to support them, slowly moving away from the old belief that girls should stay home instead of playing sports.”

Still, the struggle is uphill. “We are trying our best to make it work,” Aijaz says, “but the lack of much support and the growing need for proper infrastructure, especially a separate ground for the girls make it really difficult.”

Fighting Odds to Train the Next Generation

In this demanding landscape, Afreen, a footballer and now a sports teacher at Delhi Public School (DPS) for the last four years, stands as a powerful figure in shaping the next generation. Having played with some of the region’s most respected clubs—including State Football Academy, Real Kashmir, Kashmir Arrows, and Downtown Heroes—Afreen is no stranger to the grind.

She has participated in tournaments like the Christmas Club Tournament, Police Tournament, Martyr’s Tournament, and Chancellor’s Trophy (where her team ended as runners-up). Between 2022 and 2024, she competed in national tournaments in Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Yet, the challenges have followed her throughout. In April 2024, during a national tournament, there was no female coach assigned. “Only five days before the tournament did they start training,” she recalls. “There are few female football coaches in the system, and no structured support as should be given to this sport.”

Travel for matches—from Srinagar to Jammu to West Bengal—came at a personal cost, literally. The players received no reimbursements even after nine months as they had been promised will receive. “Though food and accommodation were provided, they were far from adequate” said Afreen. 

Despite all this, Afreen now trains 15–20 girls and also boys, ranging from UKG to 10th grade, nurturing their passion for the game with limited resources. “It’s been extremely difficult to follow my passion with less support from the government and sports council,” she says, “but that doesn’t mean we stop.”

Like Afreen, Nadia, Mehroosh and other women, those who have paved their way in football with much struggle, now coach young girls of the valley with hopes of better future and absolute passion for the game, kicking societal barriers one goal at a time.