Asmara Habib Kiani is a Pakistani football player.[1] She is a member of the national women football team and is also the head coach of the Total Football Youth Academy.[2][3]

Asmara Kiani
اسمارہ کیانی
Personal information
Full name Asmara Habib Kiani
Date of birth 1993
Team information
Current team
Highlanders
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007-2020 Young Rising Stars
2021- Highlanders
International career
2010- Pakistan
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life edit

Asmara started playing football in her school years. She then joined a professional club to further her skill in football.[4] Asmara and her club formed the Young Rising Stars in 2007. In an interview, Asmara stated that she faces the stereotype that football is not for women.[5] She said it takes a lot of mental strength to deal with criticism but her father's support encouraged Asmara to move forward.[6][7]

Club career edit

Asmara joined the Young Rising Stars in 2007 and started participating in professional tournaments.[8] In 2009, she represented Pakistan in the United States as part of a sports envoy exchange programme.[9]

In 2012, Asmara became the captain of her club.[10][11] She was a part of the YRS team which won the National Women Football Championship a record five times.[12] She was awarded the Misha Dawood Trophy for the Best Player at the 2012 edition.[12]

In 2017 as part of a Pakistani youth football team, Asmara and her team went to Australia to play at a tournament.[13] She has also represented Pakistan in the SAF championship in Bhutan.[14][15]

Asmara has also worked as a coach and as a sports development officer at the Total Football Youth Academy,[16] where she provides football coaching to under 16 teams. She has also worked as an ambassador for football in Pakistan.[17][18]

In 2021, she captained Highlanders Football Academy at the 2021 National Women Football Championship.[19] Her team won all four of their group stage matches, and thus topped the group. However, the tournament was cancelled before the knockout round.

International career edit

In 2010, Asmara represented the country in the first SAFF Women's Championship in Bangladesh as a member of Pakistan's national women football team. She also played for her country at the 2012 edition in Sri Lanka.[20]

Honors edit

Young Rising Stars edit

Individual edit

  • Misha Dawood Trophy: 2012

References edit

  1. ^ "Pakistani squash player slams advert featuring Momina Mustehsan | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  2. ^ "Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund". www.ppaf.org.pk. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. ^ "Momina Mustehsan: The Pakistani superstar helping girls up their game". BBC News. 2017-10-26. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  4. ^ "The 'football is not for women' stereotype follows me everywhere_ says Asmara Kiani". article.wn.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "PPAF acknowledges contributions of women in supported community institutions". Daily Times. 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. ^ Kazim, Syeda Shehrbano (2016-12-16). "The 'football is not for women' stereotype follows me everywhere, says Asmara Kiani". Images. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  7. ^ "The 'Football Is Not For Women' Stereotype Follows Me Everywhere, Says Pakistani Footballer | New Age Islam News Bureau". www.newageislam.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  8. ^ Kazim, Syeda Shehrbano (2016-12-16). "The 'football is not for women' stereotype follows me everywhere, says Asmara Kiani". Images. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  9. ^ "Asmara Kiani | sportanddev.org". www.sportanddev.org. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  10. ^ "Females | Sports Board Punjab". sportsboard.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  11. ^ "Pakistani athlete criticises a soft drink ad in Facebook post for featuring a 'celebrity'". The Indian Express. 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  12. ^ a b Editorial Staff (2012-10-09). "Young Rising Star fight hard to retain Women Championship". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  13. ^ "Australian Women Club, melbourne, Melbourne (2020)". www.findglocal.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  14. ^ "Pakistani soccer player hits Aussie fields". SBS Your Language. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  15. ^ Naveed, Malik Riaz Hai (2014-10-30). "5 Questions-5 Answers: Unlucky Asmara Kiani". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  16. ^ "Fight like a girl: Women in sports negotiating athletic ability and femininity". The Express Tribune. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  17. ^ Saleem, Ahsan Bilal (2017-10-30). "Momina Mustehsan Highlight Issues Affecting Young Women". MeshPedia. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  18. ^ Editorial Staff (2015-11-30). "'Women football also in decline due to PFF political crisis': Women NT stars to FPDC". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  19. ^ Editorial Staff (2021-03-24). "Highlanders confirm Group D top spot in NWFC 2021". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  20. ^ "PFF approves 30 female footballers for national camp". The Nation. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2020-12-03.