Duesburg. Kosovar Aslani left the national team pool for a medal in Kosovo.
Now the gamer is back – with a fuller heart and more enthusiasm than ever.
“I feel when I get there that I’m a great role model for the girls there,” she says.
In consultation with national team captain Peter Gerhardson, Kosovare Aslani went to Kosovo last week.
Once there, the 33-year-old received a medal from President Fgusa Osmani for his work on gender equality and football. Great day for all the Aslani family.
Actually, my father was with me for the first time. Kosovare-Aslani says he was very emotional.
– I think it’s important to remember my roots too. My parents were born and raised in Kosovo so of course it was a big deal for them and me.
She is grateful to union leader Gerhardson for letting her go.
– He’s a very nice person. That he sees the person behind him and how big that was to me. Aslani says: I thanked him for that.
Then I got more emotional.
Encounters with young girls who wore her name on their backs were very touching.
– Maybe that’s when I became more emotional. You grew up in Vimmerby and when a footballer came to visit you felt inspired and excited. Now being there will be more private. They may not have the best resources, but I don’t think that should stop anyone from getting where they want to be in the world, Aslani says.
Personally, I’m incredibly passionate about equality. It’s one of my heart problems. Perhaps I have never seen myself as a footballer only, but I am trying to do what I can on many levels to promote women’s football and give girls better conditions.
The questions the children asked were predictable.
– “What do you say when everyone says you shouldn’t play football because you’re a girl?” These are the questions and this is something I grew up hearing. It was important to me to inspire and motivate them. You also said you only have one life and that is something you should make an obstacle. It’s just fuel to move on and use as motivation.
“Bigger than any male player”
Kosovare Aslani believes that there is a lot of investment in women’s football in Kosovo and that the national team’s goal is to move up the world rankings. It also indicates that the last two presidents of the country are women.
Even the president of the Football Association treats me more than any male player. I was treated like one queen when I arrived. It was inspiring to me that people think Kosovo is behind, but I think they are far ahead in terms of gender equality, says Aslani.
– I really felt like you were a role model for them. It was great to see him. You may have been weary from the trip, but you walked away with a full heart.
Does it motivate you more now?
– very much. I have said that the day I choose to stop playing in the national team, I hope to play Kosovo in my last international match.
Sweden will face Germany in an international training match on Tuesday evening.