Riyadh: Alotabi is dreaming big again.
The captain of the U-17 Saudi women’s national football team – founded in February – hopes to inspire other girls across the kingdom and dream of winning the FIFA World Cup with the Green Falcons.
Led by Croatian coach Stella Gutal, the U-17 team consists of 28 players and is captained by Alotaibi, one of the youngest players in the Saudi Women’s First Division, in which she represents Al-Yamamah FC.
Alotaibi started playing football in 2013 at the age of six in a team coached by his father, himself a professional football player.
“My father used to be a player so I feel like football is in my blood,” Alotabi told Arab News. “It’s been a big part of my life since I was little.” He added that his family and friends “and everyone cheering me on” are his main inspirations. And she hopes to be a source of inspiration for others as well. “Being one of the youngest players in the (league and national team) means I get to inspire young girls,” she said.
She is also quick to give credit to her teammates at Al-Yammah: “I would like to thank my teammates first of all, because they helped make it easier for me; Because I am the youngest, they take care of me.”
Alotabi stresses that discipline and dedication are key for anyone hoping to become a professional.
“If you love sport and you want to do amazing things and achieve a lot, you have to believe 100 percent in what you’re doing,” she explained. “Always being on time, always the first person on the field, the last one off the field. If you have passion for something, you are going to achieve a lot.”
On 24 March, the Saudi Arabia women’s national team entered the FIFA World Rankings after nine more international matches than in the previous year.
“Currently the Saudi national team is ranked 171st out of 188 national teams. This proves how hard we are working in such a short time, inshallah, in future you will see how far we come,” Alotabi said.
Following a recent victory in an international friendly, the teams gathered for official photos, and Alotabi copied Manchester City star Erling Haaland’s ‘yoga meditation’ goal celebration.
“I know it’s Haaland’s trick, but I was happy and wanted to celebrate and that was the first thing that came to mind,” she said. “Now it’s become a thing.”
She has another signature pose where she brings her hands together to form the letter “M”.
“It’s M for Majd,” she said. “Inshallah, when I score for the coming matches, I will do it.”
For now, Alotabi is focusing on her career with Al-Yammah and the Saudi national team, but would she consider the move in the future?
“What’s next for me is I want to be the best player in the league,” she said. “(Regarding other) clubs…to be continued.”