‘I knew I belonged’: Saudi footballer Aljowharah Hassan turns resistance into motivation
ALKHOBAR: When Aljowharah Hassan was asked to go in goal during a 2024 university match against Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the attacking player had never played as a keeper before.
Her usual position was on the left wing, but an injury to a teammate meant the 24-year-old had to make an unexpected switch during the match, played at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University’s Al-Rakah campus in Dammam.
“I won’t deny how nervous I became when I heard the news. I wasn’t prepared, but I took it as a challenge with myself to prove that I deserved the position and the trust of my teammates and coach,” Hassan told Arab News.
The gamble paid off. She kept a clean sheet and her team beat Princess Nourah University 3-0.
