Hello from Amman,
My name is Maryana Al-Haddad. My path to GIZ has been rather unusual: for almost ten years, I played as goalkeeper for the Jordanian national team.
After my career on the pitch, I became a coach. I then joined GIZ for a project that connected sports and development in Jordan during the time of the Syrian civil war.
Off the pitch, I graduated in business administration. Both paths shaped me. Goalkeepers are typically the leaders on the pitch, and these experiences came in handy when I later worked as a finance manager at GIZ. For the project Sport for Development, I also gave workshops in the field and wrote manuals for trainers, PE teachers and youth leaders in the field.
The project taught social skills all throughout Jordan, in refugee camps and in the host communities. Sports connect different nationalities. Syrians, Jordanians and Palestinians came together in a fair, tolerant and sports(wo)manlike manner. Playing a team sport enables you to learn for your life, gain confidence and cooperate with others.
The empowerment of women and youth motivated me most. At least half of our participants were women and girls playing football for the first time. It was truly amazing to see them finally enjoy sports more freely.
We also encountered challenges. In the more traditional parts of the country, it was not common to have a female coach. These situations, however, taught me tolerance, empathy, and respect towards people with different backgrounds and opinions. Throughout the years, society’s attitudes have changed profoundly. Female coaches and sports teachers are no longer an exception, and you can see girls playing football all over the country.
Even though the project ended in 2024, its legacy lives on. The Jordanian Football Federation reestablished the grassroot centres we built together. The girls and boys who participated in the youth programme became doctors, engineers and teachers and now pass on what they learned to the next generation.
Looking back, I would do everything all over again. I learned so much and saw many of my dreams come true: girls and women playing football, handball, basketball and ultimate frisbee; some of them going on to become coaches, teachers and role models for others.
As a former national player, I find it deeply exciting to see the Jordanian men’s team participate in this year’s FIFA World Cup for the first time. Many of the players started out in the grassroot centres that we supported. A true success story that makes me so proud.
مع السلامة و كل الحب من الأردن
Goodbye with all the love from Jordan!
Maryana
