'I didn't speak English': how football changed a young Muslim girl's life

The UK’s first Muslim female football referee – who fled Somalia aged 10 – has set her sights on officiating a major final and explained how the sport helped her settle in when starting at primary school while unable to speak English.

Jawahir Roble, 25, says she struggled to communicate at first after moving to north London, not far from Wembley, the home of English football.

"I didn't speak English but football was there from day one," she said. "I would bring my own ball and whoever has the ball at primary school is at the top. All the boys and girls would play with me and it was the best feeling,” she told BBC Sport.

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"In the classroom it was all grammar and I was so confused but the only time I was actually trying to speak was when I was playing with the kids. I would say 'please pass me the ball', 'thank you' and 'shoot'.

"Words would just come out naturally and I was like, damn, I'm speaking English."

Speaking earlier this year to We Play Strong – The Women's Football Channel on YouTube, she explained what it was like living in Somalia and leaving as civil war struck.

“I remember vividly what happened in Somalia. It was horrible because imagine you are at home, the kids that you play football with, everyone is being told to run for their lives and go somewhere else,” Ms Roble said.

She also wants more women to become involved in officiating and says she regards herself as a full-time athlete having recently graduated from university.

"In terms of increasing the level of female referees, I would say celebrate each one and support them," she told the BBC.

"The women's game is growing and referees have to progress alongside it. Encourage, encourage, encourage."

Jawahir Roble left Somalia for the UK when she was 10. Frame Creates

Ms Roble also insists she would always stand up to any form of abuse directed her way. She has also got used to – and enjoys – the surprise people express when telling them that she is the referee.

"When I first go to the ground I do not wear my kit, and so I go to the groundsman and say, 'Hello sir, I'm the referee today, please can you give me a changing room?'

"Then it's usually: 'Are you?'

"At the beginning I was wondering why they would be surprised, but now I can't wait to say it and you get used to it. I like the shock."

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Tenet

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Rating: 5/5

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Jigra

Director: Vasan Bala

Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh

Rated: 3.5/5

FIGHT%20CARD

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The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km

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WHAT%20IS%20'JUICE%20JACKING'%3F

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Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

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UNpaid bills:

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019

USA – $1.055 billion

Brazil – $143 million

Argentina – $52 million

Mexico – $36 million

Iran – $27 million

Israel – $18 million

Venezuela – $17 million

Korea – $10 million

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019

USA – $2.38 billion

Brazil – $287 million

Spain – $110 million

France – $103 million

Ukraine – $100 million

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.