Asmara Kiani is a young Pakistani girl. She speaks softly and slowly, and not a lot. She looks down every time she completes a sentence and has a warm smile on her face. In the first instance, you can never guess that Asmara is an enthusiastic soccer player who is ever ready to take over the world of soccer.
At a very young age, Asmara has already broken strong gender stereotypes in Pakistan and beyond. Her eyes shine every time she talks about the game, and you can sense a rush of adrenaline in her body when she talks about her future as a Pakistani soccer player and the future of the sport in the country.
Invited by the , she is currently visiting Australia for two weeks and says she’s here to explore opportunities that would benefit the football sport back in Pakistan. 
This, however, isn’t Asmara’s first visit to Australia. She first travelled here in 2017 as part of a Pakistani youth football team to play at a tournament.
The Young Rising Football Club 2014 with Asmara Kiani (sixth from left-standing) as captain. Source: Author
In the last few days, she says she has attended some soccer camps and soccer clinics, but the best experience so far was when she went to watch a Bulldogs game with the AFL Pakistan players in Melbourne – the city she will spend most of her time in.
“There was so much to learn from the players. I observed their every move and was greatly fascinated.”
She adds that the Great Ocean Drive, a couple of hours drive from Melbourne, left her mesmerised.
"I hadn't been to such a beautiful place in my life."
How the journey began
Asmara started playing soccer in 2007 for a private Pakistani club after her teacher told the students the club was looking for female players. Since then, she says, there has been no turning back. Today, she not only coaches under-16 players at the same club but is also the captain at the club.
In 2011, she first played at international level and within a few years, she is now a member of the National Women Football Team. Asmara was also selected the best female player from Pakistan in the 8th National Women Football Championship.
The ban on Pakistan Football Federation
Recently, FIFA lifted Pakistan's ban from international soccer following the end of “undue third-party interference”. This ban went on for three years taking away all opportunities from the sport to grow in the country.
Asmara says football has come back to life in Pakistan and hopes this will grow in future.
“My current trip to Australia is part of the same attempts that we are making, trying to make football a big and successful sport in Pakistan,” she tells SBS Urdu.
Source: Asmara's Instagram
Currently, a Pakistani soccer player is representing Pakistan at the ongoing SAF Championship in Bhutan. On her return to Pakistan, Asmara will start training for the National Championship.
“We have the talent. We just need opportunities.”
