Latest news with #PaulineHamill
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Former Scotland player named manager of Afghan women's refugee team
Pauline Hamill, who previously played for Celtic, Hibs and Kilmarnock, and coached at Rangers, was announced as the new head coach of the newly formed team by Fifa and has been endorsed by the footballing body's president Gianni Infantino. Fifa said the team is part of their commitment to offer 'every girl and young woman the opportunity to pursue their footballing dreams, regardless of their circumstances'. Women in Afghanistan have been banned from playing sports in the country since the Taliban came to power in 2021. READ MORE: Greenpeace activists arrested as Forth Road Bridge protest ends In May, football's governing body gave the green light for a new team of female players of Afghan nationality who had obtained refugee status abroad to be formed. Hamill will manage three 'talent identification camps', from which a squad will be selected to play international friendlies as part of the project. 'We're proud to have Pauline Hamill guiding this team on such a meaningful journey,' Infantino (below) said in an announcement post on social media. (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire) 'Her experience, empathy and dedication will be a powerful source of strength and inspiration for these courageous players.' He added: 'Fifa stands firmly with Afghan women - at home and in exile - and remains committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where they can pursue their football dreams and be seen, heard and supported on the international stage.' Fifa said the newly-established team 'represents a significant step forward in giving Afghan players the international platform to which they aspire', while also minimising the 'risk of harm'. Players for the team will also have access to support in other areas, including physical preparation, nutrition, psychological care and safeguarding. Hamill, who played for Scotland 141 times across an 18-year career, said she had no hesitation in accepting the job, calling it a 'no-brainer'. She said: 'I was super excited, honestly, as soon as I was offered the role. 'From the very start, something about the job was really pulling me in. 'So, when I had the opportunity to lead the team, for me it was an absolute no-brainer. It's a privilege to be invited into this project. 'This is going to be something really special, and I think it's something that they'll remember forever. 'It's more than just a football journey. This is something that will have a lasting effect on people.' Hamill is an experienced coach, as she has worked with the Scotland women's under-17s between 2010 and 2017 before moving up to the under-19s for six years. In 2003 she made history as she became the first ever female coach at Rangers, being appointed to a youth development role at the Ibrox club, while still playing football herself. In 2023 she was named head coach of the Saudi Arabia women's under-20s, which was also a first for the country.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Scotland striker named first-ever manager of Afghan women's refugee team
They previously played Celtic, Hibs and Kilmarnock - and once coached at Rangers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER Scotland striker has been appointed head coach of the newly-formed Afghan women's refugee football team. Afghan women have been banned from playing sport in the country since the Taliban came to power in 2021. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Girls of the Afghan National Development Squad - all of whom are refugees Credit: The Times 2 Pauline Hamill during her days as a Scotland international Credit: Les Gallagher - The Sun Glasgow Back in May, Fifa gave the green light to set up a new team for female players of Afghan nationality who had obtained refugee status abroad, allowing them to play in official matches. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been leading the process, which will now see players gather for three "talent identification camps" in order to populate a squad. These training camps will not only decide who makes the team but they will offer players psychological care, safeguarding and better access to nutrition and physical preparation. Ex-Scotland, Hibs and Celtic striker Pauline Hamill has been chosen by Fifa to be the first-ever manager of the team. Hamill, 53, earned 141 caps for the Scotland women's national team and scored 29 goals during an illustrious international career. She played for Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers ad Celtic among others at club level before retiring in 2011. An experienced coach, she worked with the Scotland women's under-17s between 2010 and 2017 before moving up to the under-19s for six years. In 2023 she was named head coach of the Saudi Arabia women's under-20s (a first for the country). Hamill holds a Uefa Pro Licence and headed up the SFA Women's National Academy at the University of Stirling before moving to the Middle East. She made history way back in 2003 too, when she was still a player, when she became the first ever female coach at Rangers, being appointed to a youth development role at the Ibrox club. Nicolas Kuhn poses for selfies with Celtic fans as he greets team-mates and Brendan Rodgers at Como Cup Hamill described the job as a "no-brainer" and a "privilege" and that she hopes the initiative will have a long-lasting impact. She said: "I was super excited, honestly, as soon as I was offered the role. "From the very start, something about the job was really pulling me in. "So, when I had the opportunity to lead the team, for me it was an absolute no-brainer. It's a privilege to be invited into this project. "This is going to be something really special, and I think it's something that they'll remember forever. "It's more than just a football journey. This is something that will have a lasting effect on people." Infantino said upon announcing Hamill's new role: "We're proud to have Pauline Hamill guiding this team on such a meaningful journey. "Her experience, empathy and dedication will be a powerful source of strength and inspiration for these courageous players. "Fifa stands firmly with Afghan women - at home and in exile - and remains committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where they can pursue their football dreams and be seen, heard and supported on the international stage." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hamill 'privileged' to lead Afghan women's refugee team
Former Scotland striker Pauline Hamill says it is a "privilege" to have been named head coach of a newly-formed Afghan women's refugee team by governing body says the team is part of their commitment to offer "every girl and young woman the opportunity to pursue their footballing dreams, regardless of their circumstances".In the coming months, Hamill will manage three "talent identification camps", from which a squad will be selected to play international friendlies as part of the ground-breaking initiative and Hamill's appointment have both been endorsed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino. "We're proud to have Pauline Hamill guiding this team on such a meaningful journey," Infantino said. "Her experience, empathy and dedication will be a powerful source of strength and inspiration for these courageous players." Women have been banned from playing sport in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in a press release, Fifa says the newly-established team "represents a significant step forward in giving Afghan players the international platform to which they aspire", while also minimising the "risk of harm".As well as football coaching, the camps will give players access to support in other areas, including physical preparation, nutrition, psychological care and safeguarding."Fifa stands firmly with Afghan women - at home and in exile - and remains committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where they can pursue their football dreams and be seen, heard and supported on the international stage," Infantino 53, played 141 times for Scotland across an 18-year international career and says she had no hesitation in accepting the job."I was super excited, honestly, as soon as I was offered the role," she said. "From the very start, something about the job was really pulling me in. "So, when I had the opportunity to lead the team, for me it was an absolute no-brainer. It's a privilege to be invited into this project."Hamill hopes the project will help players to better integrate themselves in local communities, as well as developing their footballing abilities."This is going to be something really special, and I think it's something that they'll remember forever," she said. "It's more than just a football journey. This is something that will have a lasting effect on people."
