Respect, Rules, Religion
Emaan Gulzar, New York, USA
Goal Click teamed up with New York City FC to tell the inside story of the New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI), building 50 mini soccer pitches in communities across the five New York City boroughs with partners from the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, U.S. Soccer Foundation, adidas, and Etihad Airways. Youth participants aged 8-23 told the story of their own football life, street soccer culture, and the impact of the pitches on their communities.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Emaan Gulzar. I am ten years old. I’m a fifth grader from PS90. I like football because in my culture (I am Pakistani American) we love soccer and cricket. My dad takes us to soccer matches and that’s our thing. In gym, I love to play soccer.
Who is in these photos? Do any of them have interesting stories?
My cousin Asad was playing football. He is obsessed with football but mainly he loves to use my face as the goal and kick the ball towards my face! He is in first grade and he is the first boy I have met who loves a rainbow. A lot of times boys don’t like rainbows, but my cousin does, and that is something appreciate about him.
Where were the photos taken?
These photos were taken in school (PS90) in the new soccer field that we received. I was surprised when I first saw it because it was so beautiful. We really play a lot of soccer on the field.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
We tried to show that we really love the new football field. I was showing how kids play football, and how happy they were feeling because they were enjoying the new field.
My cousin was having such a fun time. He was actually aiming for the camera and so I took the photo and ran away because he was for aiming for me. I wanted to show that my cousin is kind of naughty when he’s playing football.
What is your favourite photo? Why?
My favorite photo is where you can see the soccer ball in the air. It is kind of blurry because it was flying in the air really fast. When the ball flies the air, you can see the movement, and that is something that is really cool. The soccer ball was saying, “I can flyyyyyyyyyy!!!” All soccer balls should feel happy, and the way to make them feel happy is by kicking them hard and making them fly!
Can you tell us your personal story?
I am a ten-year-old girl. My culture is from Pakistan and rooted in Islam. Islam is a religion to follow if you are a Muslim. Muslims believe in Allah, and we read the holy book every single day.
Every day, we read a chapter. I am on the last one now. It teaches about how to be a good Muslim. Good Muslims do no harm to others and take care of elder people. Our religion teaches us to respect all people even if we do not know them. We greet everybody because we believe everyone deserves respect. My culture is connected to the game of football because our religion and football follows rules and follows respect.
A true footballer follows rules of sportsmanship. They don’t say mean things and they don’t break the rules. Football is respectful because it is a form of exercise, and it helps our body move and we can check our heart rate while we play. Football is kindness because we must be kind to each other during the game, and that reminds me of family.
I loved soccer since I was 3 because it was always fun to play. I have a mom, a dad, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I also have a sister in law. My nephew is 1 and he plays football. He can already walk and kick the ball. My niece is about 2 and she can already play soccer like she’s a teenager. She plays really good. Soccer is respect, it is a set of rules, and it is kindness. And that is why soccer brings my family together.
Why is football important for your community?
Football is important for my community because it shares kindness throughout our community. Kindness is important because it prevents people from bullying and being rude. Football teaches kindness because it teaches players to follow the rules, not fight, and not complain. Kindness is really easy to spread through football.
What does football mean to you? What ambitions do you have for the future?
Football means respect and kindness around the world because people from all over the world can bond through football. Pakistanis and Colombians live on opposite sides of the Earth, but they can still connect through football. I have the ambition to always play football. My mom is actually going to sign a paper so I can join a team.
What impact has the NYCSI programme had on you?
Now I enjoy football so much more because I have friends in different classes but we get to be on the football field together and enjoy a game of football.
What do you think the future looks like for soccer in New York and the USA? What do you want to change?
As new people come to live in New York and the USA, we can share kindness together and have a happy life through playing football together. The girls’ soccer team wins a lot of games in the USA, and the boys’ team wins some games in the USA. The boys get paid more though. I think girls and boys should get paid the same because it is not fair to get paid less because everyone tries their best.
What are the opportunities for female footballers in your community, New York and the USA?
My mom joins wants me to join soccer because it is the only thing I like to do besides homework. Homework is number one. We have a chance to join a team to play football and I see many chances for girls to play football in our community. I think we need to see more kindness in sports. For example, sometimes in gym I see kids acting mean if they lose or even if they win a sports game. We need more kindness in the world, and we can teach it through sports and football. Teamwork makes the dream work!
