Jawahir Roble, a Somalian refugee, became the first Muslim female referee in the UK.
Fleeing war in Somalia, she moved to Britain with her parents at the age of 10. Ever since then she fell in love with football as it was a perfect tool for her to socialise and meet new people as she didn’t speak English.
In an interview with the BBC, she expressed how her classmates struggled to understand and communicate with her.
“I didn’t speak English but football was there from day one,” she said. “I would bring my own ball and whoever has the ball at primary school is at the top. All the boys and girls there would play with me and it was the best feeling.
In the classroom, it was all grammar and I was so confused but the only time I was actually trying to speak was when I was playing with the kids. I would say ‘please pass me the ball’, ‘thank you’ and ‘shoot’.
Words would just come out naturally and I was like, I’m speaking English.”
Jawahir considers herself lucky as she said she didn’t face discrimination because of her skin tone and religion. But the UK's first Muslim female referee still acknowledges that it’s a real issue that many faces.
“Strength is having your own weaknesses and sharing them with other people,’ she said.
It’s showing people that those weaknesses are not the end of the world and they can do it, they can push themselves.
Without any struggles, no one is going to get anywhere, it doesn’t happen like that. I want to inspire as many young girls as possible.”
