Emirati Women's Day: How this footballer made her way to the Guinness World Records

Footballer Areej Al Hammadi on breaking new ground with her Hotstepping record that's made its way to Guinness World Records.

Areej Al Hammadi is 'literally' on top of the world. The 34-year-old recently wrote a new chapter in the Guinness World Records, having accomplished 86 football 'hotstepper' control tricks in a minute, putting daylight between her and the previous mark of 56 set in the UK in March. Her ultimate dream now is to put UAE women's football on the world map. "I grew up reading the Guinness World Records book and was amazed by the achievements. During the lockdown, I was looking at the challenges and just thought I'd give it a try. It's a really amazing feeling," she says.

The full extent of her feat has taken a while to sink in. "It didn't really hit me until much later after I broke it, and got the approval. And then, it all sunk in. 'Okay, yes, I broke it.' I went home and celebrated with my friends. Then everything was normal until it picked up in the news. It hit me hard then," she says.
Having been with the UAE team since 2015, Areej feels that it can portray a picture of what women's football in the country is capable of. She says it only proves that there is potential here.
Areej's tryst with football began at a very young age, and thanks to the UAE's fascination with the sport, she was hooked. "I was always into sports; it was a part of my family as well. The World Cup would always be broadcast on TV. But, specifically, it was football that I enjoyed the most when I was playing with my brothers, even though I was more involved in basketball and other sports in school. For some reason, I always enjoyed football the most. When I was younger, I played with my brothers and cousins and the boys in the neighbourhood," she reveals.
Life has been full of surprises ever since. Areej says she couldn't have imagined that she would represent the national team some day. "When I was young, I just imagined playing football. I didn't know about women's football then. So, I just continued playing until academies and women's football competitions started being organised in Dubai. I participated in the university and saw that the national team was recruiting. I took on the opportunity. I asked them if I could try out and it all started from there."
Areej's football journey began at the American University in Dubai before she moved on to the Dubai Women's Football Association at Jebel Ali. She also spent two seasons at Abu Dhabi Club Al Wahda. Currently, she represents the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Her maiden sojourn with the national team was to Cyprus as part of a development side and she also played in the West Asian Championship.
Today, while Areej is thankful that the society accepts women's football, she feels it would make a massive difference if the whole country backed them. "There's a lot to be done, honestly. The grassroots and the younger teams are going in the right direction. Mainly, we need to first accept women's football culturally. We have all the facilities, the government allows us to play the game, the leadership is supportive, providing all the facilities. But it would make a world of difference if the whole country gets behind the team," says Areej, who is a creative project manager at Expo 2020 Dubai.
For now, her ambition is to play in a World Cup. While that may seem like a distant dream at the moment, she says she would continue to contribute and make sure the UAE reaches there.
"For me, the dream would be to play in a World Cup. But realistically, I really wish to see UAE women's football get to the level it deserves. Even if I am not going to be playing in it, for sure, I will be involved one way or another because it is my passion. I hope it reaches there soon, because we are on the right path and, if we continue working hard, we will get there."
james@khaleejtimes.com