By Leslie Sanroman, Courier Staff Writer
James Logan High School varsity soccer player recruited to play for the Afghanistan women’s national team.
After a long weekend tournament 16 year old, Zinet Siddiqi, demonstrated the talent and capability to play for the Afghanistan Women’s national team. The coaches whom she seemed to have impressed greatly, e-mailed her father expressing their interest in having Zinet play for their national team. Along with playing for her country of origin’s national team, she will have the opportunity to participate in the qualifying rounds for the 2019 FIFA women’s World Cup finals in France as well as in the Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan in 2020.
It was not just luck that caused Zinet to be recruited. She has been playing soccer since she was four and has jumped around from many teams, improving her skills each time. She is currently on the California North Stars team and practices 3-4 days a week and plays very competitive games almost every weekend. Siddiqi devotes a lot of time out of her life for soccer and to one day achieve her goal of playing for a Division 1 soccer team.
Zinet is a junior and has been playing soccer at Logan for all 3 years. She entered high school playing at a very advanced and competitive level, causing her success and title as MVP on varsity her freshman year. That is an outstanding achievement for any freshman.
Zinet gratefully stated, “If there was one person that I could thank for being where I am now, it would be my father.” She explained that her father motivated her and pushed her to become a better player, even when she didn’t want to be one herself.
Siddiqi is appreciative of the people who have supported her and being where she is now. However, this is not the end for Zinet and expects to keep improving and getting where she wants. “I believe I am good, but I still need a long way to go and want to improve a lot.” said Zinet, “I want to have a career in soccer and want to play for a good college.”
Zinet has accepted to play for the Afghanistan women’s national team and is very excited. She believes this is the first step to her, what she hopes to be, long career in soccer.
