Page 40 of The New Girl

Denise and Safa had been picked to play. Safa was thrilled to be on the team. When Mr Kowalski, their coach, had told her, she had almost cried. She loved being part of the team. The other girls on the team were really nice and had welcomed her from the first day. All they cared about was football, not where she came from or her background. As far as they were concerned, if you could play football, you were one of them.

As they warmed up, Mr Kowalski gave them some tips. ‘Right, Safa, their striker is a big tall girl. She’s got a serious boot on her. If it ends up being a one on one, come out of the goal and run at her. Be brave. Don’t hold back. Denise, I’m counting on you to score. If you think you have a shot, go for it.’

When they ran out onto the pitch Safa felt very nervous. She was glad they had allowed her to wear her hijab. She had explained to the coach that she couldn’t play in front of a crowd of men – dads and brothers – without her scarf on. Mr Kowalski said he didn’t care if she came out in a deep-sea diving suit and flippers as long as she saved goals.

Safa ran into the goal and tried to keep warm by stretching and running on the spot.

‘What’s the story with the goalie?’ one of the dads who was standing quite near Safa asked the dad beside him.

‘Apparently she’s that refugee kid the headmistress insisted on taking in.’

‘What? Are those refugee kids taking our girls’ places on the sports teams now too?’

‘I didn’t think Muslim girls were allowed to play sport,’ a mother said.

‘Yes they are!’ Safa wanted to shout. But she stayed quiet.

‘They probably only chose her to be kind. You know, to help her fit in,’ a dad said.

‘Yeah, she’s probably rubbish.’

Just you watch, Safa thought,I’ll show you.

Safa’s need to prove herself to the parents watching from the sideline drove her to play out of her skin. She was on fire. She saved six goals, and she charged out when the tall striker was coming towards her in a one on one and tackled her, getting the ball safely away.

Down the other end, Denise scored two cracking goals. The end result was 2–0 to St Mary’s.

‘Wow, our new goalie is class!’ the dad nearest Safa said.

‘And plucky,’ the other dad said.

‘We’re lucky to have her,’ the mum added.

‘She’s streets ahead of our old goalie,’ another dad muttered.

Safa felt herself fill with pride. She’d shown them. She’d shown them all that she wasn’t some refugee taking their daughters’ places. She was a good goalie and she deserved to be on the team.

‘You’re the player of the match!’ Mr Kowalski shouted across at her. ‘Brilliant performance, Safa.’

Denise ran over and hugged her. Ruby and Clara came running onto the pitch too.

‘You were amazing!’ Clara said. ‘I find football really boring, but I actually enjoyed watching that match.’

‘You rocked!’ Ruby hugged her tight.

‘Safa, Habibti.’ Mama came over and hugged her.

‘Is this your mum?’ Mr Kowalski asked.

Safa nodded.

‘You must be very proud of your daughter. She is a very talented goalie.’

Mama nodded. ‘Yes yes, proud. Safa good football. She very brave.’

They all laughed. ‘Yes, she is, very brave,’ said Mr Kowalski.

Safa felt so good. Like she belonged. Like she fitted in. Maybe she’d never fit into the class or the school, but on the football team, she did.

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