“We need more women in sport” – Afghan women’s footballer and refugee backs University scholarship

A former Afghan women’s football captain and refugee who benefitted from a Women in Sport Leadership scholarship at Manchester Metropolitan University is calling on athletes to apply for this year’s award. 

The ground-breaking scholarship programme which helps to nurture female talent in top sports jobs is being offered by Manchester Met. 

The University’s renowned Masters of Sport Directorship (MSD) is offering two Women in Sport Leadership scholarships of £6,000 and £3,000 to women working in sport who are applying for a place this year’s course. 

Khaleda Popal, an Afghan footballer who received a scholarship in 2023, is encouraging women to apply after seeing the difference it made to her life and career. 

As the former captain of the Afghanistan women’s national football team and founder and director of the Girl Power Organisation, Popal is familiar with the struggles that many women face when progressing in what is still a male-dominated industry. 

Popal said: “I have been in sport for such a long time and there is always a need to build more education and experience alongside the need for more diversity. 

“I felt really happy to see the opportunity for women to get a scholarship. Here’s an organisation that is actively trying to get women into sport.” 

Currently living in Denmark, Popal’s work focuses on giving women in minority communities the chance to meet others like them and develop better self-esteem and confidence through sport. 

The opportunity to study on the MSD at Manchester Metropolitan aligned with her goals of developing her leadership and forcing change in sport across the world. 

She said: “The first thing I thought when I saw the scholarship was, I’m a refugee in Denmark and do I have the flexibility to do such a scholarship and continue my work. 

“But the course is very tailored to the work I am doing in sport as well as my personal situation. 

“I’ve felt very supported on the course, the curriculum is built to support people and you get to meet and work with others from a range of backgrounds.” 

The MSD prepares its graduates for sporting director and other sports leadership roles. The two-year part-time programme has attracted high-profile names, including Popal and former Manchester City Women FC and England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley. 

The scholarships provide reduced fees and were launched in 2017 in response to a survey by the Women in Sport organisation, which found that the number of women in top jobs at UK sporting bodies was falling. 

Mark Batey, MSD Programme Director at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “We are passionate about improving female representation at every level of sporting organisations and ensuring women can progress to the top jobs in sport. 

“The MSD Women in Sport Leadership scholarship helps to equip women already working in sport, with the leadership skills they need along with the acumen and organisation to drive sporting organisations forward in a commercial world.” 

The Women in Sport Leadership scholarships are open to any woman who meets the MSD criteria and consist of a first prize of £6,000 and second prize of £3,000 reduction in the course fees. 

Popal said: “We need more women in sport to empower ourselves and change the game.  

“For people like me, who have faced a lot of challenges and really want to give back to the sport, this will help to achieve the dream of working in this area.” 

Applicants should email MSD@mmu.ac.uk for an application form. 

Find out more information on the Masters of Sport Directorship course at Manchester Metropolitan.