Three Afghani girls who came to Australia for a better life and a better education. All brought up by their single mother’s living with their sibling.
Reihaneh Saeghi
From Afghanistan born in Iran, her dad passed away when she was 5 and her aunty gave her mother a contact to apply for residency in Australia. After being successful her family came to Australia in 2012 where she started at Northern Bay College Peacock Campus.
Reihaneh lives with her 3 brothers and 4 sisters and her mother in lower Lovely Banks. She has been an active student in all sports especially enjoys playing school soccer which she has played in the school team representing Northern Bay.
Narges Ahmadi
From Afghanistan, lived in Iran. Her father died in 2012 and a few years later herfamily were forced out of Iran and were fortunate to be able to go to Australia for a better life in 2016 with her mother and 2 brothers. Her family lived off unemployment benefits and later when her eldest brother was old enough to work, he was able to help financially. Also enrolled in at Northern Bay College Peacock Campus soon after arriving in Australia a school close to her home in Norlane.
Narges also enjoys playing soccer and has represented the college in many sports such as hockey and soccer.
Walija Iqbalali
Born in Pakistan also Afghan, raised by her mother who wanted a better life for her children. In 2013 she came to Australia with her mother and brother and enrolled in at Northern Bay Peacock Campus. Family living in Norlane close to the school.
Walija has also represented the College in soccer and tennis.
All girls have been fortunate enough to be part of the year 7/8 SEED development program at Northern Bay College which has allowed themselves and other students to develop their skills in a range of sports where they are coached by outsourced experts, in a range of sports undertaken every Friday. Later if chosen they represent the college against other districts which all 3 girls have been fortunate to have been part of.
The North Geelong Warriors early this year were looking to recruit more under 14 girls for their club’s girls’ team. Gordana Krsul the Physical education Co-ordinator was contacted to see if she knew of any interested girls at the college.
The 3 girls were recommended and then approached to see if they were interested to take part in the under 14 girls Warriors team.
The girls were so excited and were then driven down to the club for their first training session where they were a bit nervous and quickly settled in as a result of the warm welcome of the other girls and coaches.
The girls could not believe the level of skills of the other player and their level of fitness. So their first training was an eye opener as they could not believe the high standard of these girls.
FEEDBACK FROM THE GIRLS ABOUT THEIR 2019 SEASON AT NORTH GEELONG WARRIORS
They loved their experience and their on-going development at the Warriors Club. The wonderful Croatian Community who embraced them and made them feel so welcome from the start.
Maria Spehar who was warm and approachable and always informative about trainings and match details through -out the season which was vital to these EAL girls.
The coaches who taught them so much in one season and they said that Frank and Ivan made training fun but challenging at the same time teaching them so much about soccer.
The new friendships they made and the support of the other girls who helped improve their skills through- out the season.
They are so thankful to the club who not only covered their expenses for the season but gave them an opportunity to be part of a supportive club surrounded by a beautiful and warm community.
Who would think that in their first season they would be heading to the finals this Saturday!
Thanks to the Warrior girls the 3 have been fortunate to play with such dedicated players who have worked so hard all season and taught them so much in a short time.
