Former Scottish international player and long-time youth coach Pauline Hamill has been appointed coach of the Afghan women’s refugee team.
FIFA, soccer’s governing body, announced on Friday that Hamill would be the team’s inaugural coach.
The Afghan women’s refugee team was announced by FIFA in May, and ratified following the FIFA Council’s approval of the FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football.
Hamill will now be part of three “talent identification camps” according to FIFA, to form a side to compete in international friendlies.
The Scot played 141 matches for her country, has worked with Scotland’s under-17 and under-19 programs, and most recently was head coach of the Saudi Arabian women’s U-20 national team.
“This is a unique job. It’s way beyond the realms of a normal coaching job,” Hamill said in the official media release.
“Every player involved has a story to tell about their personal journey in football, and it’s incredible to be part of something that shows them that their dream and ambitions in football still exist.
“They’ve had to leave their country, they’ve been displaced as refugees, and now all of a sudden there’s this amazing opportunity to come together in this project.”
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According to FIFA, the team — composed of female players of Afghan nationality who obtained refugee status abroad — would first operate under a one-year pilot phase, which will help the organisation determine the long-term viability of the program.
FIFA regulations require teams to receive recognition by a national federation in order to compete.
The Afghan Football Federation, however, has not acknowledged its women’s teams, in fact banning all women’s sports across the country.
Afghanistan has not had a women’s side compete in an official match since 2018.
ABC/Reuters