Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Only five years ago, under the Taleban, they did not even dare to leave their homes. Today, they sit front of the television, watching the World Cup football games in Germany and seeing a dream to strive for. They are members of the young national women's team of Afghan football. Set up only two years ago, the team is thinking big.

Yesterday, glued to the video, they followed the moves of their heroes, Brazilian football players, whose "brilliance" and "success" they want to emulate. "Their feet are golden," enthused 18-year-old Azadeh Naem. "Brazil is the best in the world."

Azadeh is part of the national Afghan football team. The sport took root in the country barely two years ago and it is still hidden from most of the public, not least because of a lack of stadiums and football games. The young sportswoman, together with another 250 women who are members of the Afghan Football Federation, is against the conservative tendencies of Islamic society. She is also saddened by her family's disapproval for her football passion. Khalida Bhopal, also 18, said: "It is very difficult for a girl to play football in Afghanistan. Society says football is not for girls." But this has not dampened her determination: "I want to play football and I want to be the best."

Islam allows women to practice sport, as long as they are modestly dressed and play separately from men. Afghan women who are football players wear a tracksuit of long trousers and long-sleeved tops, and many have their heads covered, as required by their religion. However, although they respect these conditions, they still run up against allegations of indecency and people's prejudice. "This is a man's society," said Lali, the captain.

During the Taleban dictatorship (1996 – 2001), women were forced to wear burqas and could barely leave their homes. Practicing any sport was out of the question. Even men had problems; the Kabul stadium had become a public execution ground. Today, the male team has started playing again but women do not go to the stadiums.

Lali continued: "Women's football is new in Afghanistan and they cannot play outside where all people can watch." Only a handful of men turn up to watch them play and games take place behind closed doors in places like the "Women's Garden", a park specifically for women and children.

The trainer of the women's national team, Abdul Sabour Walizada, is proud of this players but he does not hide the reality that there are difficulties: "The main problem we have is the local circumstances, social and cultural: we cannot train in public and we lack a proper ground. I want to take my girls to international competitions, but if we want to press ahead, the Garden is no longer sufficient."