Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

An unbeatable team is made when team players support one another, think of the greater good, and motivate one another. When the team wins, everyone feels like a winner, no matter who scored the winning goal.



Legendary basketball star, Michael Jordan, once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”



The Overland High School girls’ soccer team in Aurora, Colorado in the US is just that sort of team that extends outstanding, unwavering support to each team member.



Although FIFA has lifted the ban on headscarves, allowing female Muslim players to wear the hijab while playing soccer, the high school soccer referee refused to allow the player Samah Aidah to play while wearing her hijab.



One week later, out on the high school soccer field, the entire soccer team showed up; all the girls were wearing headscarves! Backing their teammate and defending her freedom of religious expression, the soccer players all wore headscarves.



Team member Divine Davis posted a photo of the closely knit team, adorned in hijabs on Twitter. With more than 22,000 retweets and 23,000 favorites, Davis’s photo has garnered widespread support for Samah Aidah and has made a loud statement on teamwork, equality, and respect.  



A flood of inspirational messages were sent to the girls’ soccer team, and one follower commented, “That is what a real team is, one that sticks together no matter what and never leaves anyone out.”